• Israel recovered 2,500 items related to spy Eli Cohen during a covert operation.
• The items include personal documents, photographs, and Cohen’s will.
• This operation was a collaboration with a foreign intelligence service.
• The retrieval commemorates 60 years since Cohen's public execution in 1965.
• Prime Minister Netanyahu emphasized Cohen's contributions to Israeli intelligence.

On Sunday, Israel revealed that it had successfully retrieved the extensive Syrian archive containing documents and personal items belonging to the renowned spy Eli Cohen, who was executed in 1965. The trove includes approximately 2,500 items, comprising photographs, handwritten letters, and significant personal artifacts that had been tightly secured by Syrian intelligence for decades. Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu's office stated that “in a complex covert operation by the Mossad,” the archive was secretly returned to Israel with the assistance of a foreign intelligence agency, although further details on the foreign partner remain undisclosed, according to Indiatimes and NY Times.

The retrieved items not only trace Cohen’s life but also reflect his significant contributions during his espionage mission in Syria. Among the archival treasures are Cohen's original will, drafted shortly before his execution, and keys to his apartment seized by Syrian authorities. Furthermore, the documents detail communications between him and various Syrian officials, along with personal letters addressed to his family, offering insights into his emotional state during imprisonment, as reported by CBS News and NY Times.

Cohen, who infiltrated Syria posing as a businessman, established critical connections within the Syrian military and political spheres. His intelligence significantly influenced Israel's strategies during the Arab-Israeli War of 1967. Although the remains of Eli Cohen have yet to be located, Netanyahu emphasized the historic nature of the archive retrieval, calling it a symbol of Cohen's legacy and importance to Israeli intelligence. "Eli is an Israeli legend... There was no one like him," Netanyahu stated, showcasing the enduring impact of Cohen’s efforts, according to Indiatimes and CBS News.