The IDF announced Friday morning that Lt. Col. Dor Gedalya Ben Shimchon Z”L, commander of Battalion 52 in the 401st Brigade, was killed overnight in combat in southern Lebanon. Ben Shimchon Z”L was one of four IDF soldiers killed when their tank was hit during operational activity in the area. The names of the three other fallen soldiers have not yet been cleared for publication.
Ben Shimchon took command of Battalion 52 on April 20, 2026, after the previous battalion commander was seriously wounded in combat. He assumed command of the battalion in the midst of a complex operational period and led his troops over the past two months in the northern theater.
The IDF said Ben Shimchon grew up in the Armored Corps within the 401st Brigade, where he held a series of significant command positions throughout his service. Among other roles, he served as a field commander and later as chief of staff to the Northern Command commander during Operation Northern Arrows. After completing that role, he attended the Command and Staff Course, then returned to operational service and was appointed battalion commander.
The IDF statement said Ben Shimchon Z”L “stood out for his professionalism and leadership,” and that when called upon, he “stepped under the stretcher” and took command of the battalion in complex moments of combat. The statement added that he fell in battle while leading his men at the front.
Lt. Col. Ben Shimchon Z”L was married and the father of two daughters. He grew up in a family with a tradition of combat service—he and four of his brothers served in the 401st Brigade, and another brother served in the Golani Brigade. His wife serves as a combat officer in the Combat Intelligence Collection Corps and Border Defense Corps.
The IDF and defense establishment eulogized the battalion commander who fell in the line of duty and expressed condolences to his family. May his memory be a blessing.