Former armored brigade’s battalion commander returns to head unit after successor wounded in Lebanon fighting

By Emanuel Fabian

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15 April 2026, 11:59 am

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Emanuel (Mannie) Fabian is The Times of Israel's military correspondent

Lt. Col. Daniel Ella, the commander of the 401st Armored Brigade’s 52nd Battalion, speaks to reporters in Gaza City's Tuffah neighborhood, January 21, 2024. (Emanuel Fabian/ Times of Israel)

Following the injury of the commander of the 401st Armored Brigade’s 52nd Battalion in southern Lebanon yesterday, Lt. Col. Daniel Ella, a previous commander of the battalion, will return to the role temporarily, the military says.

Ella, as the 52nd Battalion commander, was moderately wounded during fighting in Gaza in July 2024.

He was replaced by Lt. Col. Yehuda Shalev, who was later severely wounded in October 2024. Ella then briefly returned to serve as acting battalion commander until the latest commander — seriously wounded yesterday — entered the role.

Now, Ella will again serve as acting commander of the battalion.