The IDF has temporarily appointed the deputy commander of the 401st Brigade to lead the 52nd Battalion following the death of Lt. Col. Dor Ben Simhon in southern Lebanon on Friday, according to Israeli military sources. A permanent commander—the fifth since the war began—will be named later.
The IDF has selected an acting commander for the 52nd Battalion of the 401st Armored Brigade, filling the gap left by Lt. Col. Dor Ben Simhon who was killed in action in southern Lebanon on Friday (June 19). The temporary replacement is the deputy commander of the 401st Brigade, Lt. Col. N., a military source confirmed Saturday. The appointment is interim until a permanent battalion commander is chosen—the fifth officer to lead the 52nd Battalion since the start of the war against Hezbollah in Lebanon.
The battalion has sustained heavy losses since the ground operation began, with Ben Simhon being the fourth commander killed or wounded in the current campaign. As The Zioneer reported on Friday, Ben Simhon, 32, from Beit Hashita, took command after his predecessor was severely wounded. He was killed alongside three crew members when their tank was struck near Nabatieh while leading a mission to destroy strategic Hezbollah underground infrastructure near the Beaufort Castle. The appointment of the fifth commander underscores the continued intensity of armored combat in southern Lebanon.
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- Internal intake