IDF's 401st Armored Division changes chief weeks after outgoing head injured by Hezbollah FPV drone

The IDF's 401st Armored Brigade held a changeover ceremony on Sunday, with Colonel Yoav Schneider assuming command from Colonel Meir Biderman. This transition is notable as Colonel Biderman is currently recovering from serious wounds sustained in a Hezbollah drone attack on May 20 in southern Lebanon. However, the IDF confirmed that the change of command was scheduled prior to the incident that injured him.

Colonel Biderman is set to transfer to the IDF's Operations Directorate, where he will lead the planning department. He had held the position of commander of the 401st Armored Brigade since October 2024, succeeding Colonel Ehsan Daxa, who was killed during combat with Hamas terrorists in the Gaza Strip. Schneider previously commanded the 205th Reserve Armored Brigade.

The ceremony took place at the IDF Northern Command headquarters and was attended by several senior officers. These included Northern Command Chief Maj.-Gen. Rafi Milo, Southern Command Chief Maj.-Gen. Yaniv Asor, 162nd Division Chief Brig.-Gen. Sagiv Dahan, and 91st Division Chief Brig.-Gen. Yuval Gez, along with other commanders, soldiers, and relatives.

The IDF also confirmed that another IDF reservist officer was wounded by the same explosive drone that injured Colonel Biderman. The incident underscores the ongoing security challenges faced by Israeli forces on the northern front.