Yonatan Steinberg

Yonatan Steinberg
Steinberg in 2019
Native name
יהונתן שטיינברג
Born1980
Died (aged 42)
Kerem Shalom, Israel
Allegiance Israel
Service / branch Israel Defense Forces
Commands933rd "Nahal" Brigade
Battles / warsIsrael–Hamas war †

Yonatan Steinberg (Hebrew: יהונתן שטיינברג; 1980 – 7 October 2023) was an officer in the Israel Defense Forces (IDF) with the rank of colonel, who served as the commander of the 933rd "Nahal" Brigade. He had previously served as the commander of the Center for Tactical Training in the IDF, the commander of the Binyamin Brigade [he], the Assistant Brigade Commander (Operations) of the Steel Formation, and the commander of Battalion 931. He was killed by Hamas fighters in a surprise attack on Israel in October 2023.

Biography

Steinberg studied at Jerusalem's Horev Yeshiva [he] high school and Ma'ale Eliyahu [he] yeshiva in Tel Aviv.[1] He enlisted in the Israel Defense Forces (IDF) in August 2000 and was assigned to Battalion 931 in the Nahal Brigade. After completing basic training, he served as a combat soldier in the battalion. He underwent the IDF's Combat Intelligence Collection Corps course and the IDF's Officer Candidate School. Upon completing the courses, he returned to Battalion 931, where he was appointed a platoon commander and participated in combat operations against Palestinian militants during the Second Intifada.[1][2]

Later, he served as a company commander in Battalion 931.[1] Between 2011 and 2012, he served as the deputy commander of Battalion 931. Following that, he served as the Assistant Brigade Commander (Operations) of the Nahal Brigade between 2012 and 2013. Subsequently, he was appointed the Chief of Staff's Military Secretary, serving in this role between 2013 and 2015.[3] In 2016, he served as lieutenant colonel in Battalion 931[1] In 2019, he was appointed commander of the Binyamin Brigade [he] of the IDF,[4] reaching the rank of colonel.[5] In 2022, he was made chief leader for tactical operations and held this position until 2023. He was made commander of the 933rd Brigade in May.[2][6][7]

On 7 October 2023, Steinberg was killed in action in an exchange of fire with Palestinian militants during the Hamas-led attack on Israel.[8][9] He was one of the most senior IDF officers to be killed in action for some time.[10] His army-issued weapon was found by Israeli commandos in the Hamad City neighbourhood of Khan Yunis, along with personal effects of Israeli abductees, in March 2024.[11]

Personal life

Steinberg lived in Shomria, a religious kibbutz in southern Israel with his wife Yiska and six children.[2]

References

  1. ^ a b c d Ben Porat, Ido (2 June 2016). "לא עוצמים עין ומסכלים פיגועי טרור" [Without Turning a Blind Eye, They Are Thwarting Terrorist Attacks]. Arutz Sheva. Archived from the original on 15 September 2023. Retrieved 28 May 2024.
  2. ^ a b c "מפקד חטיבת הנח"ל, אלוף-משנה יהונתן שטיינברג ז"ל נהרג בהיתקלות" [Nahal Brigade Commander Colonel Yonatan Steinberg z'l Killed In Skirmish]. Arutz Sheva. 7 October 2023. Archived from the original on 8 October 2023. Retrieved 28 May 2024.
  3. ^ "תרגיל "שערי הפלדה" לדימוי לחימה בעזה מגיע לשיאו. הצטרפנו ללוחמים". www.idf.il. Archived from the original on 6 September 2023. Retrieved 8 October 2023.
  4. ^ "מפקד חטיבת בנימין: נס יבוא רק על גבי עבודה קשה" [Binyamin Brigade Commander: A Miracle Will Only Come On Top of Hard Work]. Srugim (in Hebrew). 15 December 2020. Retrieved 28 May 2024.
  5. ^ "Col. Jonathan Steinberg, 42: Commander and Consummate Family Man". The Times of Israel. 17 October 2023. Retrieved 28 May 2024.
  6. ^ Bridger, Bianca (7 October 2023). "IDF Nahel Brigade Colonel Yonatan Steinberg Killed in Clash Near Kerem Shalom". The Atlas News. Archived from the original on 8 October 2023. Retrieved 8 October 2023.
  7. ^ "המפקד החדש של חטיבת הנח"ל: בוגר "מעלה אליהו"" [New Commander of the Nahal Brigade: A 'Ma'ale Eliyahu' Graduate]. Srugim (in Hebrew). 28 May 2023. Retrieved 28 May 2024.
  8. ^ ""איכשהו, זה מאוד יוני. אם למות – אז בתוך משהו גדול"".
  9. ^ "הותר לפרסום: מפקד חטיבת הנח"ל, אל"מ יהונתן שטיינברג נהרג בהיתקלות עם מחבלים - וואלה חדשות". וואלה (in Hebrew). 7 October 2023. Retrieved 6 May 2024.
  10. ^ Fabian, Emanuel (8 October 2023). "Commander of IDF's Nahal Brigade killed in clashes with Hamas on Gaza border". The Times of Israel. Archived from the original on 7 October 2023. Retrieved 8 October 2023.
  11. ^ Toledano, Elhanan (10 March 2024). "בלב השכונה היוקרתית בחאן יונס: אותר הנשק של אל"ם יהונתן שטיינברג הי"ד" [In the Heart of Khan Yunis' Upper-class Neighbourhood: Colonel Yonatan Steinberg's Weapon Was Found]. jdn.co.il (in Hebrew). Retrieved 19 May 2024. The weapon of the commander of the Nahal Brigade who was killed at the beginning of the war, Colonel Yonatan Steinberg, was found in recent days by the commando brigade in 'Hamad City' in Khan Yunis. Along with the weapon of the senior officer, the fighters located effects of Israeli abductees.
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