Maj. Gen. Yaniv Asor on Wednesday assumed command of the Israel Defense Forces’ Southern Command, replacing Maj. Gen. Yaron Finkelman, who served in the position for the past year and eight months.
The transition ceremony took place in Gaza, led by new IDF Chief of Staff Lt. Gen. Eyal Zamir, who became the army’s 24th chief of staff on March 5, replacing Lt. Gen. Herzi Halevi.
Acknowledging the ongoing conflict sparked by the deadly Hamas-led terrorist invasion of southern Israel on Oct. 7, 2023, Zamir emphasized the heavy toll: “The war is still ongoing. It is complex and difficult. We have paid a heavy price. Hostages remain in captivity, and not all evacuated civilians have returned home. We will continue to use all means to bring our brothers and sisters back and to secure long-term safety for border communities.”
Zamir praised Finkelman’s leadership, stating: “In the wake of disaster, you led the southern front with a firm hand.” Addressing Asor, he said, “The work ahead is vast, and many challenges lie before you. But no one is more worthy to face them.”
In his farewell speech, Finkelman did not shy away from responsibility:
“On Oct. 7, Hamas took us by surprise. The Southern Command did not fulfill its mission—we failed, I failed to defend the western Negev. That failure is etched into me forever.”
He highlighted the fierce battles fought since: “We eliminated terrorist leaders, tens of thousands of operatives, and crippled their infrastructure. But it is not over—until all hostages are home and the enemy is destroyed.”
Stepping into his new role, Asor laid out his priorities: “The first mission—total eradication of Hamas terrorists. The second—bringing home our hostages, the living and the fallen.”
Addressing residents of southern Israel, he vowed: “We will guard—you will build. We will defend—you will rebuild. We will not cease until victory.”