Senior military leadership intervened on Thursday following a severe disciplinary incident at the Sde Teiman military base in southern Israel, where over 100 combat soldiers and officers from the Givati Brigade's Tzabar Battalion left the installation without authorization. Commander of the 162nd Division, Brigadier General Sagiv Dahan, and Givati Brigade Commander, Colonel Liron Batito, arrived at the base to conduct talks with commanders and troops to investigate the events and address the breach of military discipline.
The unauthorized departure occurred after the battalion commander destroyed metal plates containing company slogans and morale symbols. The soldiers left their weapons and military equipment at the base, gathered their personal belongings, and traveled to their homes. Following initial command outreach, nearly all participating personnel returned to post, with the exception of one platoon.
The military confirmed that soldiers who spearheaded the unauthorized departure will face disciplinary proceedings before the brigade commander. A senior military source characterized the event as a grave disciplinary breach that has no place in the defense forces. "All the fighters in the battalion, from the battalion commander to the last soldier, fought in the war and risked their lives across all combat sectors," the official stated. "Alongside this, just as in combat incidents, this event will be handled by commanders out of love and respect for the soldiers, while simultaneously setting high, uncompromising standards."
In addition to disciplinary actions for the troops, military authorities confirmed that the conduct of the battalion's command staff will undergo a formal review. Officials noted that the commanding officers involved have served courageously across multiple operational sectors over the past three years. While supporting efforts to eliminate hazing or unauthorized seniority practices, leadership confirmed that the entire sequence of events and the specific command choices made during the dispute will be thoroughly examined.
The Tzabar Battalion remains one of the primary infantry units within the Givati Brigade. Elements of the brigade have recently conducted active operations in southern Lebanon under the 91st Division, where forces uncovered anti tank missile positions and weapons caches belonging to Hezbollah terrorists.
According to statements provided by military correspondents to REUTERS, the division commander's direct involvement highlights the defense establishment's focus on maintaining strict chain of command standards while preserving unit cohesion during active deployments.
