IDF Base “Camp Aryeh” — In a formal military ceremony on Monday, Colonel Aviv Amir officially handed over command of the 417th Jordan Valley and Emekim (Valleys) Brigade to Colonel Gilad Shariki. The event, held at Camp Aryeh in the Jordan Valley, was attended by senior IDF brass, soldiers, and family members.
Col. Aviv Amir passes the command flag to Col. Gilad Shariki | Photo: IDF Spokesperson’s Unit
The ceremony was presided over by Central Command Chief Maj. Gen. Avi Blot, who praised Amir’s leadership during his two-year tenure, particularly his achievements in counterterrorism operations. “You led from the front with courage,” Blot said. “Thanks to your leadership, this brigade is now more prepared for war than ever before.”
Now It’s Our Turn
Taking the podium for the first time as brigade commander, Col. Gilad Shariki, 38, spoke with visible emotion and humility. “I stand here with great reverence, humbled by the opportunity to command part of Israel’s eastern border,” he said. “This land was fought for by our fathers and grandfathers—now it’s our turn.”
Shariki referred to the October 7 Hamas attack as a “shattering wake-up call,” and acknowledged with painful honesty: “We failed. I failed too, in defending the residents of the Gaza envelope. The pain and responsibility will stay with me for the rest of my life.”
Mission and Legacy
Shariki detailed the brigade’s structure, which includes two regular battalions—Lavi HaBik’a-and Lions of the Jordan—as well as reserve forces and support units. He emphasized the complexity of the mission: “Balancing our focus across all areas of operation is essential. We’ll continue the work with both resolve and sensitivity.”
He closed his remarks with a tribute to Col. Aryeh (Arik) Regev z”l, for whom the base is named. Regev was killed in pursuit of a terrorist cell in the Jordan Valley. “He led from the field—and so will I. Together, we will defend. Together, we will lead. Together, we will win.”
Background on Col. Shariki
Col. Shariki enlisted in 2006 into the Maglan Unit, one of the IDF’s elite special forces. He has commanded the Lions of the Jordan Battalion, led training at the Border Defense School, and served as chief of staff of the Judea and Samaria Division. He holds a BA in Middle Eastern Studies from Ariel University and an MA in Political Science from the University of Haifa.
