# Eyal Zamir

Eyal Zamir (Hebrew: אייל זמיר; born 26 January 1966) is the current Chief of the General Staff of the Israel Defense Forces, having taken office on 5 March 2025. Zamir previously served as the Director-General of the Israeli Ministry of Defense (2023-2025), as Deputy Chief of Staff between 2018 and 2021, commander of the Southern Command, Military Secretary to the Prime Minister, commander of the 36th Division and commander of the 7th Armored Brigade.

## Early life and education

Zamir was born and raised in Eilat. His grandparents were immigrants from Yemen and Syria. He is a graduate of the 17th class of The Military Academy for Command in Tel Aviv.
Zamir is a graduate of the Inter-Service Command and Staff College, and the National Security College. He holds a bachelor's degree in political science from Tel-Aviv University, a Master's degree in national security from the University of Haifa, and is an alumnus of the General Management Program for Senior Executives (GMP) of The Wharton School.

## Career

Zamir joined the IDF and the Armored Corps in 1984. In the Armored Corps he underwent training as a combat soldier and later attended the tank commander course. He completed an armored officers course and was a platoon commander and company commander in the 500th Brigade and the 460th Brigade.
In 1992–1994, he served as the operations officer of the 7th Armored Brigade (with the rank of major). From 1994 to 1996 he served as the commander of the 75th Battalion in the 7th Brigade (with the rank of Lieutenant Colonel). In 1996, he was a commander of the tank commanders course at the armored school. He served in this position until 1997, when he went on to study for a year at the École militaire in France.
In 1998–2000, he served as an operations officer of the 162nd Division. In 2000–2002, he was head of the Armored Corps Theory Department at the headquarters of the Chief Armored Officer, and at the same time served as commander of the 656th Brigade, a reserve division in the Central Command (with the rank of colonel). In 2002–2003, he was commander of the Tactical Training Center at the National Training Center on land, in parallel with his role as commander of the reserve division.
In 2003–2005, he was commander of the 7th Armored Brigade. In 2007–2009, he served as commander of the 143rd Division (with the rank of brigadier general), and at the same time commanded a course for company commanders and battalion commanders.
In June 2009, he was appointed commander of the 36th Division. In July 2011, he was replaced by Tamir Hayman.
In November 2012, he was appointed the Prime Minister's Military Secretary. On 3 September 2015, he ended his term as the Prime Minister's military secretary. On 14 October 2015, he took office as Commander of the Southern Command. Towards the end of his term, clashes began on the Israel-Gaza Strip border. On 6 June 2018, he ended his term as Commander of the Southern Command.
Zamir appeared alongside Aviv Kohavi, Yair Golan and Nitzan Alon on the 2018 shortlist to replace then chief of staff Gadi Eisenkot. Kochavi was ultimately appointed to the post, with Zamir becoming Deputy Chief of Staff, a position he held until 11 July 2021.
On 13 June 2022, Minister of Defense Benny Gantz commenced the process of selecting Israel's 23rd IDF Chief of Staff. Zamir was announced as one of three candidates along with Herzi Halevi and Yoel Strick. On 17 July 2022, Gantz announced that the race is between Zamir and Halevi. Halevi was chosen over Zamir in September and assumed office in January,
On 2 January 2023, he was appointed director general of the Ministry of Defense by Yoav Gallant.
After Halevi announced his intention to step down as Chief of Staff in January 2025, Defense Minister Israel Katz cited Zamir, alongside Amir Baram and Tamir Yadai as the three candidates to replace him. Zamir was announced as Halevi's replacement on 1 February 2025.

## Awards and decorations

Eyal Zamir was awarded two campaign ribbons, for his service during two wars.
| Second Lebanon War | Operation Protective Edge |