{
  "id": 4424954,
  "title": "Sniper bullet nearly hit him, now he commands battalion built after Oct. 7 failures - interview",
  "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/08/30/sniper-bullet-nearly-hit-him-now-he-commands-battalion-built-after",
  "topic": "world",
  "section": "World",
  "published": "2026-08-30T13:14:16.000Z",
  "source": {
    "name": "Jerusalem Post",
    "slug": "jerusalem-post",
    "url": "https://www.jpost.com/israel-news/defense-news/article-907028"
  },
  "original_language": "en",
  "account": "Lt.-Col. Eli Zilberman recounted a harrowing incident during the early stages of the Gaza conflict. In his first major operation, the IDF's 162nd Division ventured into one of the most challenging areas, where snipers posed a deadly threat. Zilberman narrowly escaped a sniper's bullet, which passed just centimeters from his body. This unnerving experience served as a sobering reminder of the immense responsibility that comes with commanding troops in battle.\n\nIn the aftermath of the October 7th terror attack, the IDF identified a critical shortage of trained combat personnel. Lt.-Col. Zilberman was tasked with establishing the Tzuri Battalion as part of a broader plan to bolster the reserve forces. The battalion, now operational, is designed to be a highly mobile and flexible reserve force capable of responding swiftly to emerging threats.\n\nZilberman's battalion has already made significant contributions, including over a dozen arrests, the capture of more than 100 infiltrators, and close collaboration with other units. The battalion's primary role is to defend the region beyond the border and maintain a constant vigil against potential terrorist threats. As Zilberman describes, their operations extend beyond the front lines, working to keep danger at bay and protect communities from harm.",
  "summary": "Lt.-Col. (res.) Eli Zilberman describes the establishment of the Tzuri Battalion, its operations in the Benjamin Brigade sector, and the lessons learned from the October 7 attack.",
  "key_points": [
    "Lt.-Col. Eli Zilberman narrowly avoided sniper bullet during Gaza conflict",
    "Established Tzuri Battalion to address post-October 7 combat personnel shortage",
    "Battalion has made significant contributions, including arrests and infiltrator captures"
  ],
  "editors_take": null,
  "illustration": null,
  "coverage": {
    "outlets": 1,
    "also_reported_by": []
  },
  "ai_generated": true,
  "disclaimer": "Summaries, key points and the editor’s take are written by software from other outlets’ reporting and may contain errors — always check the linked original."
}