A handover ceremony was held at the Kirya military headquarters, where Brig. Gen. Barak Hiram took over as head of the IDF Operations Division. He replaced Israel Shomer, who was dismissed after an affair with a female officer. Hiram most recently commanded the Gaza Division, after leading the 99th Division when the Israel-Hamas war broke out, and earlier served as commander of the Golani Brigade. He lives in Tekoa and is regarded as an initiator and offensive-minded officer, a profile that has drawn criticism from the left and efforts to block his appointment.
The ceremony was attended by IDF Chief of Staff Eyal Zamir, the head of the Operations Directorate, Maj. Gen. Itzik Cohen, members of the General Staff Forum, commanders, and families. Cohen, who also served in the war in Gaza as a division commander, said the Operations Division is “the beating heart of the IDF,” responsible for shaping, planning, and managing operational challenges while remaining ready for shifts across all battlefronts.
Cohen said that in recent weeks the war against Iran, Lebanon, and other arenas had been directed from the division’s command center through overt and covert actions, near and far. He said the army faces many and varied challenges, and urged personnel to learn, improve, and keep moving forward, adding that the IDF will continue to act wherever and whenever needed to ensure the security of the people and the state.
In his remarks, Hiram said he was “very excited” to assume the post “out of a sense of mission and humility.” He described the current campaign as a multi-front war that has exacted painful physical and emotional costs, said it began with failure, then recovered and produced many achievements for Israel, and stressed that fighting continues in all sectors. Hiram said the division sits at the center of IDF activity and that its real strength lies in its people, adding: “We still have a lot of work ahead of us.”
