In “Israel,” discussions have intensified regarding the significant losses and high death toll within the Golani Brigade, which is leading the war against Lebanon on the so-called “northern front.” This has prompted demands for the dismissal of the brigade’s commander as a result.
The military correspondent for Maariv, Avi Ashkenazi, quoted an officer involved in the war on Lebanon commenting on the high death toll in the brigade, including the death of former officer Zeev Hanoch Ehrlich and soldier Gur Katy. The officer stated:
“The figures are illogical. The commander of the Northern Command must dismiss the Golani Brigade commander.”
The officer further added:
“The severe incident within the Golani unit requires a radical step by the Israeli military leadership against the brigade’s commanders. Northern Command Chief General Ori Gordin must wake up this morning and fulfill his obligations by dismissing the Golani Brigade Commander, Colonel Yair Veli.”
He emphasized:
“The chaos and lack of discipline in this brigade come at the cost of the soldiers’ blood for the Israeli people.”
These remarks come after an incident where one of the Golani fighters was killed, the regiment commander sustained serious injuries, and the brigade’s Chief of Staff, Colonel Yoav Yarom, suffered moderate injuries while securing the entry of Zeev Hanoch Ehrlich into the combat zone, where he was also killed in the battle.
Reports of Longstanding Discipline Issues in Golani Brigade
Ashkenazi’s report noted that “for a long time, there have been discussions within the Israeli military about severe discipline issues in the Golani Brigade.” According to Israeli military officers, these discipline issues have led to numerous incidents during combat, including operational mishaps, a drone accident in the training base dining hall, and a high number of casualties.
The officer commented:
“The Golani Brigade has paid the highest price in terms of casualties in this war—110 dead and significantly more than any other infantry unit in the Israeli military, including Nahal, Snipers, Givati, or Kfir. The casualty rate in Golani is extraordinarily high. Are the division commander, the command leader, and the Chief of Staff not asking questions? All units are fighting. All units aim for direct combat.”
He further explained:
“The disparity in casualties should have raised red flags. There is something illogical about these figures.”
Civilian Involvement Raises Questions
The officer also expressed disbelief over an incident where a civilian was brought into a combat zone, saying:
“This is unbelievable. An investigation is needed to determine if there were political motives behind this. Was the civilian brought in to pave the way for expanding settlements in southern Lebanon, as some on the Christian right dream?”
Despite the criticisms, he acknowledged the importance of the Golani Brigade, stating:
“Golani is a very important unit in the Israeli military. The combat heritage of this brigade is among the most remarkable in the Israeli military. The best sons of the Israeli people, brave fighters, serve in this unit.”
Call for Accountability Among Top Leadership
The officer stressed that the military’s senior leadership, including Chief of Staff Herzi Halevi, Northern Command Chief Ori Gordin, and the commander of the 36th Division under which the brigade operates, should have ensured strict military discipline in the unit. He remarked:
“It is not the Chief of Staff’s job to remove a badge from a soldier’s uniform in the unit. That is the task of the unit’s discipline sergeant. But chaos begins from such points and ends with hundreds of soldiers packed into a dining hall, turning it into a target for a Hezbollah drone.”
He concluded:
“The situation persists when soldiers rush into buildings that have not yet been bombed from the air or shelled by tanks, only to be caught in deadly traps. It continues when the brigade’s Chief of Staff decides to carry out a civilian-military operation to explore a fortress deep in enemy territory without obtaining the necessary leadership approvals.”
