IDF Spokesman Recounts Wadi Saluki Battle and Severe Injury 20 Years Later

Twenty years after the Battle of Wadi Saluki during the 2006 Lebanon War, IDF Spokesman Brigadier General Effi Daprin revisited the intense moments when he commanded Battalion 9 of Brigade 401. In a special interview on the IDF podcast, Daprin recalled being severely wounded by an anti-tank missile, losing consciousness, and hearing the radio call "Kodedkod Nafal" ("The Commander Has Fallen"), which deeply affected troop morale. Despite the injury, the battalion continued its mission under heavy fire, completing its objectives before the ceasefire took effect.

Daprin described the tense atmosphere before entering Lebanon, with commanders eager to be at the forefront of the operation aimed at crossing Wadi Saluki and advancing toward the Litani River to disrupt Hezbollah’s fighting capabilities. He recounted logistical challenges such as lacking basic navigation maps and the emotional difficulty of saying goodbye to his wife, who had just given birth to their third daughter.

The battle unfolded on the war’s final day, with Daprin leading the force through heavy resistance. After the tank he was in was hit twice, he lost consciousness and later woke up in a hospital, initially disoriented but immediately concerned about his battalion and fallen soldiers, including company commander Shay Bernstein and others. Despite his injuries, Daprin returned to his unit within weeks to support the troops and visit bereaved families.

Reflecting on the experience two decades later, Daprin said the memories of the soldiers and the battle remain vivid and continue to accompany him daily. He emphasized the lifelong burden and responsibility carried by a battalion commander in war.