Israeli media are reporting the existence of a secret IDF intelligence document that claims that Israeli pilot Ron Arad survived for nine years in captivity before succumbing to a disease and dying.
According to the report Arad who was captured in 1986 after his airplane was downed over Lebanon, was held for many years in Iranian jails before being returned to Lebanon where he died of a disease. The Arad family has responded to the report saying that as far as they are concerned Ron is alive until proven otherwise. In recent years videos of Arad in captivity have come to light.