Remember them? The rest of the world seems to have forgotten: (Hat tip – reader William A.)

In their first comment about the fate of two soldiers whose capture triggered a monthlong war between Israel and Hezbollah guerrillas last summer, Israeli officials said Wednesday the two were seriously wounded — raising the prospect they may no longer be alive.

The Israeli military censor allowed publication of the existence of the report on Wednesday, and local media broadcast sketchy details. Military officials told The
Associated Press the report determined that one of the soldiers was critically wounded and the other seriously wounded when they were captured, without
giving further details. They spoke on condition of anonymity under military rules.

“If they did not receive immediate medical treatment, there is grave concern for their lives,” Israel TV military correspondent Yoav Limor said on the nightly
TV newscast.

After Hezbollah guerrillas crossed the Lebanon-Israel border in July and attacked an Israeli patrol, killing three soldiers and capturing the two, Israel sent regular forces into Lebanon, first to look for the soldiers and then to try to beat Hezbollah into submission.

Both missions failed, and the war ended inconclusively after Hezbollah fired almost 4,000 rockets at northern Israel despite a massive Israeli ground and air
assault on Lebanon…

…Hezbollah has not released any details on the conditions of the soldiers, Eldad Regev and Ehud Goldwasser, or provided any signs that they are still alive.

A senior Hezbollah official, Sheik Hassan Ezzeddine, said he knows nothing about their conditions. “Only Sayyed Nasrallah knows,” he told the AP, referring to Hezbollah leader, Sheik Hassan Nasrallah.