Israeli Defense Minister Yisroel Katz has approved IDF Chief of Staff Lt. Gen. Eyal Zamir’s recommendation to appoint Maj. Gen. Dado Bar Kalifa as the next commander of the IDF Central Command, part of a sweeping round of senior military appointments announced Monday.
Bar Kalifa is expected to replace Maj. Gen. Avi Bluth and assume command sometime in 2027. The precise date of the transition will be determined based on the operational situation at the time.
The appointment was finalized during a broad personnel meeting chaired Monday by Zamir, during which numerous changes were approved across the IDF’s senior and field-command ranks. Bar Kalifa’s selection had been anticipated after Katz said during an August interview with Channel 14’s “The Patriots” that he intended to appoint him to lead Central Command. Following Zamir’s recommendation, Katz has now formally approved the appointment.
The IDF’s maneuvering brigades will see extensive leadership changes. Col. Yonatan Meir will take command of the 7th Armored Brigade, Col. Tal Elkobi will command the 188th Armored Brigade, Col. Bar Bashan will take over the Givati Brigade, Col. Eitan Gilad will command the Nahal Brigade, and Col. Ran Friedman will become commander of the Paratroopers Brigade.
Col. Shimon Siso will be appointed commander of the Commando Brigade, while Col. Nir Ifergan will take command of the Kfir Brigade. Col. Efrat Kikuv will be appointed commander of the 282nd Artillery Brigade, and Col. Niv Daube will take command of the Bnei Or Formation.
A number of new appointments were also approved for the IDF’s special operations units and Israeli Navy. Brig. Gen. R. will be appointed commander of the Military Intelligence Directorate’s Special Operations Division. In the Navy, Col. O. will take command of Shayetet 13, Col. B. will become commander of the submarine flotilla, and Col. V. will command the missile boat flotilla. Col. Aviel Balhassan will become head of the Ground Forces Training Department.
The military also announced several senior appointments involving logistics and strategic planning. Brig. Gen. Chai Kfir Magnazi will become chief of staff of the Technology and Logistics Directorate. Col. Elad Benano Zion will be promoted to brigadier general and appointed head of the Logistics Division, while Col. Avi Malka will also be promoted to brigadier general and take command of the IDF’s central supply center.
Col. Yonatan Schneider will similarly be promoted and appointed head of the Tevel Division in the Planning Directorate.
Changes were also approved within the IDF’s regional commands. Col. Anan Fares will become operations officer for Southern Command, while Col. Dvir Avraham Diamond will assume the corresponding position in Northern Command.
At General Staff headquarters, Col. O. will be appointed head of the Operational Planning Department in the Operations Directorate, Col. Y. will head the Planning Department in the Planning Directorate, and Col. Regina Azulai will become head of the Organization Department in the Planning Directorate.
Col. Meir Azulai will be appointed head of the Logistics and Operations Department in the Technology and Logistics Directorate. Col. Roi Nadler will become head of the Medical Department and deputy chief medical officer, while Col. Assaf Shlomo Gabai will take command of the IDF’s Afek Command and Staff Course.
The latest appointments also include Col. Adniram Sharabi as commander of the School of Military Engineering and Col. Daniel Kreuzman in a command position within the IDF’s training system.
The personnel meeting additionally approved several officers for academic studies in Israel and abroad, along with further promotions and appointments in the Israeli Air Force, Navy and General Staff directorates. The remaining appointments agreed upon during the meeting still require final approval from the defense minister.
