Brig. Gen. Barak Hiram assumed command of the IDF Operations Directorate at a handover ceremony held Monday at Rabin Camp in the Kirya. The event was led by IDF Chief of Staff Lt. Gen. Eyal Zamir and Operations Directorate chief Maj. Gen. Itzik Cohen, with members of the General Staff Forum, commanders and family members in attendance.
Cohen said the directorate sits at the center of IDF combat management and force building, calling it “the beating heart of the IDF.” He said it is responsible for shaping, planning and managing operational challenges while remaining ready for shifts across all war arenas. Cohen added that in recent weeks the war has been directed from here against Iran, Lebanon and other fronts, using both close and distant actions, overt and covert. He said the challenges ahead are many and varied and urged the incoming team to “learn, improve and keep moving forward,” while promising the IDF would continue to act “anywhere and anytime required” to protect the country.
Hiram said he was taking on the post with a sense of mission and humility. He described Israel as being in a multi-front war that has exacted painful costs in both body and mind, saying the war “began with a failure,” then moved into recovery and produced significant achievements for Israel. He said the IDF is still fighting on every front and that the public interest of Israel remains the guiding priority.
Hiram also said the directorate’s strength lies in its people, whom he credited with bringing professional knowledge to the overall operational effort. He said there is still much work ahead and many challenges and missions remaining, and expressed confidence in the directorate and the IDF’s ability to secure Israel.
