Yaron Finkelman

Israeli brigadier general (b. 1975)

Yaron Finkelman

Finkelman in 2023

Native name|

ירון פינקלמן

Born| 1975 (age 48-49)
Ra'anana, Israel
Allegiance|  Israel
Service/branch|  Israel Defense Forces
Years of service| 1993–present
Rank| Major general
Unit| Paratroopers Brigade
Commands held| 35th paratroopers Brigade's Reconnaissance battalion, reserve Paratrooper Brigade, Regional Brigade in the Gaza Division, Givati Brigade, 98th Paratroopers Division
Battles/wars|

* South Lebanon conflict (1985–2000)
* First Intifada
* Second Intifada
* Operation Defensive Shield
* 2006 Lebanon War
* Operation Cast Lead
* Operation Pillar of Defense
* Operation Protective Edge
* Operation Swords of Iron

Yaron Finkelman (Hebrew: ירון פינקלמן; born 1975) is an Israeli major general who commands the Southern Command of the Israel Defense Forces.

## Military service[edit]

Finkelman was drafted into the IDF in 1993 and did most of his military service in the Paratroopers Brigade. He served as a soldier and squad leader in the 500th Brigade Reconnaissance company. In 1996 he became an infantry officer after completing officer candidate school and return to the brigade. Finkelman led the Brigade's Reconnaissance company in counter-guerrilla operations in South Lebanon. Afterwards he served as an Executive officer in Maglan special forces unit and in 890 "Efe" (Echis) paratroop battalion in counter-terror operations in the Second Intifada. In 2006 Lebanon War he served as Gen. Dan Halutz's aide-de-camp. Later on he commanded the 35th paratroopers Brigade's reconnaissance battalion in counter-terror operations in the Gaza Strip. On November 4, 2008, he led his paratroopers in Operation Double Challenge, a military incursion into a residential area of Dayr al-Balah in central Gaza, that resulted in six militants killed and the destruction of a tunnel concealed within a building 300 meters from the fence on the Gaza Strip border.[1] Finkelman continued and led his paratroopers battalion during the Operation Cast Lead.[2]

He commanded a reserve paratrooper brigade during Operation Pillar of Defense and a Regional Brigade in the Gaza Division during Operation Protective Edge. In 2015 he was appointed commander of the Givati Brigade.[3] In 2017 he was promoted to Brigadier general and was given command of the 98th Paratroopers Division. In 2023 he was promoted to Major general and was given command of the Southern Command.

## References[edit]

1. ^ Finkel, Gal Perl (16 August 2016). "Analysis: The IDF vs subterranean warfare". The Jerusalem Post. Archived from the original on 13 June 2019. Retrieved 15 October 2023.
2. ^ Finkel, Gal Perl (19 April 2020). "Hezbollah in crisis, but Israel cannot take its eyes off it". The Jerusalem Post. Archived from the original on 10 October 2023. Retrieved 15 October 2023.
3. ^ Harel, Amos (19 December 2014). "Something Is Rotten in the IDF's Givati Brigade". Haaretz. Archived from the original on 16 August 2022. Retrieved 15 October 2023.

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Heads of Southern Command

* Allon (1948–1949)
* Rabin (1949)
* Dayan (1949–1951)
* Tzadok (1951–1954)
* Peri (1954)
* Amit (1955–1956)
* Simhoni (1956)
* Laskov (1956–1958)
* Herzog (1958)
* Yoffe (1958–1962)
* Zamir (1962–1964)
* Gavish (1965–1969)
* Sharon (1969–1973)
* Gonen (1973)
* Bar-Lev (1973)
* Tal (1973–1974)
* Adan (1974)
* Adam (1974–1976)
* Shafir (1976–1978)
* Shomron (1978–1982)
* Erez (1982–1983)
* Bar Kokhva (1983–1986)
* Sagi (1986)
* Mordechai (1986–1989)
* Vilnai (1989–1994)
* Mofaz (1994–1996)
* Yanai (1996–1997)
* Samia (1997–2000)
* Almog (2000–2003)
* Harel (2003–2005)
* Gallant (2005–2010)
* Rousso (2010–2013)
* Turgeman (2013–2015)
* Zamir (2015–2018)
* Halevi (2018–2021)
* Toledano (2021–2023)
* Finkelman (2023–)

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