Ron Arad is an Israeli MIA currently missing and believed held by Iran or Iranian backed groups in Lebanon.
Arad was a F-4 Phantom navigator when he and his co-pilot were forced to eject from their damaged aircraft. While his co-pilot was rescued, he was captured by the Lebanese Shiite militia AMAL on October 16, 1986.
In 1987, letters from Arad were received. The Israeli government negotiated for his released, but talks failed in 1988, after which it is believed Arad was "sold" to Iran. After this took place credible information about Arad has been hard to discover.
In an effort to bring about his release Israel has taken captive Sheik Abdul-Karim Obeid, a member of the Lebanese Hezbollah in 1989 and Mustafa Dirani in 1994. The Israeli government says they are being held in order to find out information about Arad.
Links
ICMIS Bio on Rod Arad- " class="external">http://www.mia.org.il/ron.html
Story of Ron Arad- " class="external">http://www.ron-arad.org.il/eng-story.html
Archive of News article- http://www.mia.org.il/archive.html