PM Netanyahu confirmed to i24NEWS for the first time that a search for Cohen’s remains is underway.

A source in the Syrian government has confirmed to i24NEWS that a dramatic development has taken place in the search for the remains of Israeli spy Eli Cohen.

i24NEWS can exclusively report that an item thought to have belonged to the former clandestine agent is now in Israel’s possession and is being examined for further evidence.

According to the source, the Syrians transferred the item to Russia, which is currently searching for Cohen’s remains in the region of the al-Yarmouk refugee camp.

The Russians subsequently passed the item on to Israel.

The Syrian source told i24NEWS that the item could be a piece of clothing of Cohen’s or a document, but did not offer further clarification.

Cohen was eventually caught, tried, and executed by the Syrian regime on May 18, 1965.

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has confirmed to i24NEWS that a search for Cohen’s remains is currently underway in Syria.

The Prime Minister’s Office, however, would not provide comment regarding Cohen’s personal items. Netanyahu’s office later denied that Israel was in possession of any items linked to Cohen.

This marks the first official confirmation from Israel regarding the search for Cohen’s body, and Netanyahu is expected to speak in greater detail about the case with i24NEWS during a Tuesday evening interview.

The Syrian source further added that Damascus and Moscow, who have fought side-by-side in Syria’s ongoing civil war for nearly a decade, are at odds over what concessions to extract from Jerusalem for further information regarding Cohen’s body.

Moreover, a source close to Russia’s military intelligence for the General Staff of the Armed Forces (GRU), told i24NEWS that the Syrians gave Russian units detailed maps of the area around the al-Yarmouk refugee camp, the focal point of the search.

This is the first time a Russian source has confirmed that searches are currently underway and that the Syrian army and Putin administration are cooperating in the effort.

The family of Eli Cohen chose not to provide a comment to i24NEWS on the story.

(i24 News).