On 28 April, Israel released two prisoners, sending them back to Syria in exchange of the handing over the remains and personal effects of Zachary Baumel, a 21-year-old Israeli soldier who was declared missing in action since 1982. His remains were retrieved by Russian Special Forces in Syria along with two other soldiers who fought in the Battle of Sultan Yacoub during Israel’s invasion of Lebanon. Russia mediated the repatriation and the release of the prisoners but Israel maintained that the “prisoner release did not constitute a swap with Syria, an enemy State”, read Reuters. Israel’s minister for regional cooperation, Tzachi Hanegbi, did voice hope that this might help with the recovery of the Israelis lost to the Syrians in past wars. “If with a gesture like this we leave the Syrians with less of a sour taste, then that is a positive thing,” he told Israel’s Army Radio.