Sniper bullet nearly hit him, now he commands battalion built after Oct. 7 failures – interview

Lt.-Col. (res.) Eli Zilberman, who narrowly escaped a sniper bullet in northern Gaza in November 2023, now commands the newly established Tzuri Battalion. This reserve unit was formed in 2025 as part of a broader IDF General Staff plan to address critical combat manpower shortages exposed by the October 7 failures. The Tzuri Battalion, one of over 20 such units, recruits former combat personnel and volunteers, with soldiers keeping weapons at home for rapid deployment. Initially met with skepticism, the battalion now conducts both defensive and offensive operations, including arrests and searches, in the Benjamin Regional Brigade sector. Zilberman stated, "The process of establishing the battalion began about two years ago. This is the first time we have all gathered together as a full battalion, not for training, but for full operational deployment." He emphasized the high motivation of his fighters and the crucial support from their families.