A Northern Command general bids farewell to Lt. Col. Dor Ben Shimchon after Lebanon fighting death

At Dor Ben Shimchon’s funeral, Maj. Gen. Uri Gordin delivered an emotional eulogy for the fallen lieutenant colonel, who was killed in combat in southern Lebanon. Gordin, the former head of the Israel Defense Forces Northern Command, said residents of northern Israel “owe you a huge thank you,” and called Ben Shimchon “the salt of the earth, the best of the best.”

Ben Shimchon, who had once served as Gordin’s chief of staff, was buried Friday at Kibbutz Beit Hashita in the presence of senior security officials, including generals and Mossad chief Roman Gofman. In his remarks, Gordin described him as a commander defined by deeds rather than words, saying, “Very few words, a lot of action. You had unmatched dedication. Always with an angelic smile, symbolizing strength and hope. You were the embodiment of everything that is needed.”

Gordin also said, “The people of the north do not know this, but they owe you a great debt. I hope the lethal strike did not cause you even seconds of suffering.” He added that he loved Ben Shimchon “as a commander, as a close officer and as an older brother,” and acknowledged that he has no answer for the officer’s mother, who lost “her beloved son, the dearest of all.” He ended by vowing to continue Ben Shimchon’s path and legacy.

Ben Shimchon became commander of Battalion 52 about two months ago, after his predecessor was seriously wounded in fighting in southern Lebanon. He rose through Armored Brigade 401, held several command posts, and later headed Gordin’s office during Operation Northern Arrows before returning to the field. He was killed around 12:20 a.m. when a “suspicious target” hit a tank from Battalion 52 operating near the village of Tebnine. The IDF has not yet determined whether the object was a suicide drone, and three other soldiers were also killed in the incident, though their names have not yet been released.