Givati Brigade and 162nd Division Commanders Address Soldiers After Disciplinary Incident at Field Yemen Base

Following a disciplinary incident earlier on Thursday at the Givati Brigade, commanders from the 162nd Division and Givati Brigade visited the Field Yemen base to engage with soldiers and officers of the Tzabar Battalion. The commanders, Brigadier General Shagiv Dahan and Colonel Natanel Shamkha, aimed to fully understand the event and address it appropriately. The incident involved over 100 soldiers and officers from the Tzabar Battalion leaving the base without authorization after their battalion commander broke morale plaques displaying company and platoon slogans. The soldiers left their weapons and military equipment behind, took their personal bags, and went home. Most soldiers have since returned to the base, except for one platoon. The soldiers who led the unauthorized absence will face trial before the Givati Brigade commander and will be dealt with according to the severity of their actions.

A senior military source described the event as a serious disciplinary breach with no place in the IDF but emphasized that it would be handled with balance, respect, and high standards. The source noted that all soldiers in the battalion, from the commander down, had fought bravely in recent conflicts. The commanders involved have extensive combat experience across multiple fronts over the past three years. The IDF supports addressing such incidents firmly but will also investigate the commanders' handling of the situation. Currently, Givati Brigade forces, including the Tzabar Battalion, are operating in southern Lebanon under the 91st Division, working to expand forward defense in the northern sector. During these operations, they located anti-tank missile positions and other weaponry belonging to Hezbollah. The Tzabar Battalion is a key infantry unit within Givati and previously included the now-disbanded ultra-Orthodox Tomer platoon, which was closed due to declining recruitment. Further updates are expected.