Militaryיאיר צוקרמן

Yair Zuckerman

Yair Zuckerman is an IDF officer with the rank of brigadier general who commanded the Nahal Brigade during the Swords of Iron War and now heads the Combat Command Training Center.

born 1982Commanding the Nahal Brigade in GazaTaking command on October 7, 2023Commanding the Etzioni Brigade

Occupation: military officer
Rank: aluf mishne

Yair Zuckerman was born in 1982 in Jerusalem

Zuckerman was born in Jerusalem in 1982, the son of Rabbi Yehoshua Zuckerman. He grew up and studied in Jerusalem.

He joined the IDF in August 2002 and served in Battalion 931 of the Nahal Brigade, rising from platoon commander to company posts. In the Second Lebanon War he was deputy commander of the battalion's lead company. Later posts included deputy commander of the Nahal reconnaissance battalion and chief of staff to the Southern Command chief during Operation Protective Edge.

He commanded Battalion 50 from 2016 to 2018, then the Nahal training base, and from 2020 the Etzioni Brigade. In 2022 he became deputy commander of the Steel Formation. On October 7, 2023, after the Nahal Brigade commander was killed, he was ordered to take command of the brigade and was later appointed to the post permanently.

Under his command the brigade fought in the Gaza ground maneuver, including Jabalia, the Netzarim corridor and Rafah. In April 2024 the chief of staff reprimanded him over the killing of World Central Kitchen workers. In August 2026 the military prosecution found that the commanders' decisions did not cross the criminal threshold.

He lives in Nov in the Golan Heights. He is married to Amana, daughter of Effi Eitam, and has 6 children.

Yair Zuckerman's life in 9 milestones

1982
Born in Jerusalem.
2002
Joined the IDF and Battalion 931 of the Nahal Brigade.
2013
Received the Defense Minister's certificate of excellence.
2016
Promoted to lieutenant colonel and named commander of Battalion 50.
2018
Appointed commander of the Nahal training base.
2020
Promoted to colonel and named commander of the Etzioni Brigade.
2022
Became deputy commander of the Steel Formation.
2023
Took command of the Nahal Brigade on October 7.
2024
Reprimanded by the chief of staff over the World Central Kitchen strike.

Yair Zuckerman served in Nahal Brigade

Zuckerman has served in the IDF since 2002, mostly in the Nahal Brigade, fighting in the Second Lebanon War and commanding Battalion 50, the Etzioni Brigade and the Nahal Brigade. He commanded the Nahal Brigade in the Swords of Iron War and holds the rank of brigadier general.

Nahal Brigade