IDF chief removes senior officers from reserve over October 7 failures

Chief of Staff of the Israel Defense Forces (IDF) Eyal Zamir has decided to remove former Operations Directorate head Oded Basyuk and former Southern Command leader Yaron Finkelman from reserve service, Israeli media outlet Detaly.co.il reports.

Zamir has been holding discussions with high-ranking officers, from lieutenant colonels to generals, regarding their responsibility for the operational failures on October 7. Basyuk and Finkelman, who led the Operations Directorate and Southern Command at the time, have been withdrawn from reserve duty.

Former Aman chief Aharon Haliva has also been removed from the reserve after failing to attend a meeting with Zamir. Additionally, Brig. Gen. Yossi Sariel, commander of the 8200 signals intelligence unit during the October 7 events, did not attend his scheduled discussion.

Zamir has reached an agreement with current Military Intelligence head Shlomi Binder to complete his planned tenure before leaving the army.

The IDF has stated that the status of some previously retired officers will be amended to indicate they were discharged rather than having left voluntarily.

In total, more than 20 officers have been summoned for meetings with the Chief of Staff and his deputy, including Air Force Commander Tomer Bar, Navy Commander David Salama, and former Gaza Division commander Brig. Gen. Avi Rosenfeld. Some officers received formal reprimands, while others were issued service notes.

By Khagan Isayev