Amir Baram (; born 22 July 1969) is an Israel Defense Forces major general (Aluf) who currently serves as the Director-General of the Israeli Ministry of Defense. He previously served as the Deputy Chief of General Staff, commander of the Northern Command, commander of the IDF Military Colleges, commander of the 91st Division, commander of 98th Paratroopers Division and commander of the Paratroopers Brigade.
Early life Baram, the son of Yitzhak Baram, was born in Beersheba and lived until around age 6 in Safed,Tali Lipkin-Shahak, "Personal Meeting," Galei Tzahal, May 23, 2020. and later in Ra'anana.Corin Elbaz-Alush, "After Them to the Paratroopers," Ynet, November 22, 2017. He studied at the Reali School in Haifa and was a cadet at the military boarding school, graduating with distinction from Class 34.In Silence and Security, Amir Baram.Avihai Becker, "Enlightened Destruction," Haaretz, December 24, 2002.
Biography He enlisted in the IDF in November 1988, volunteering for the Paratroopers Brigade and was assigned to the Paratrooper Reconnaissance Unit. He completed the training as a combat soldier, followed by the Infantry Commanders Course and Infantry Officers Course, graduating as an outstanding cadet. He was appointed as a team leader in the Paratrooper Reconnaissance Unit and later served as deputy company commander. In 1992, he became a company commander in the 890th Battalion.Amos Harel, "Battalion Commander in Nablus: We Can't Keep Residents Locked in Their Homes Forever," Haaretz, July 12, 2002. Later, he commanded the Paratrooper Reconnaissance Unit from 1994 to 1996, leading operations including Operation Pink Panther, in which four Hezbollah militants were killed in Lebanon."Operation Pink Panther," official Paratrooper Reconnaissance website. He subsequently served as a company commander at Officer Training School (Bahad 1). After his term, he pursued studies at the Interdisciplinary Center Herzliya. In February 1999, he interrupted his studies to replace the commander of the Paratrooper Reconnaissance Unit, Eitan Belhassan, who was killed in action in Southern Lebanon."Unit Commanders," official Paratrooper Reconnaissance website. He rehabilitated the unit and led it to numerous operational achievements before the withdrawal from Lebanon in May 2000.Avihai Becker, "Why Didn't I Rise?", Haaretz, October 7, 1999. After the withdrawal, he resumed his studies at the Interdisciplinary Center Herzliya, earning a law degree with honors. He later attended the National Defense College.
In 2002, he was promoted to the rank of Lieutenant Colonel and appointed commander of the 890th Battalion, serving until 2003.Amos Harel, "Lt. Col. Amir Baram: I Have a Reassuring Message for the Public - The Battalion's Soldiers Are Not Hungry and Are Not Cold," Haaretz, February 15, 2003. During his tenure, he led the battalion in fighting against Palestinian terror organizations in Bethlehem before Operation Defensive Shield, and in the Battle of Nablus during the operation. The battalion was later deployed in intense operational activities in Tulkarm. The battalion gained media exposure following an event where soldiers appeared as needy, prompting Baram to clarify in an interview that the paratrooper battalion did not require charity. Another event that drew attention was his adoption of a battalion motto inspired by the U.S. Marines' counterterrorism doctrine: "Patience, perseverance, and sometimes a bullet between the eyes"Gal Perel, "We Kill Those Bastards for a Month. Don't Worry, They'll Be Here Tomorrow," On Target blog, February 16, 2021. Following a complaint from a reserve soldier to MK Yossi Sarid, Sarid raised the issue with then-Chief of Staff Moshe Ya'alon, a former commander of the battalion, who ordered the motto's removal."A Bullet Between the Eyes", Walla, June 2, 2003 The motto was replaced with one coined by Ariel Sharon as battalion commander: "No Return Until the Mission Is Completed." In Tulkarm, he improved ambush tactics in urban combat, leading to operational successes (operations "Stimulus-Response").Ronen Bergman, "Code Name: Straw Widow," Yedioth Ahronoth, April 26, 2004. In May 2004, he was appointed commander of Maglan Unit, serving until June 2006. During his tenure, the unit conducted operations mainly in the West Bank and Gaza, but also participated in operations against Hezbollah on the Lebanese border.Gal Perl Finkel, "Hezbollah in Crisis, But Don't Take Your Eyes Off It," Israel Hayom, April 6, 2020.
Commander of the Shomron Brigade On 17 August 2006, he was promoted to Colonel and appointed commander of the Shomron Brigade.Col. Amir Baram Takes Command of the Shomron Brigade, Ynet, August 17, 2006 During his tenure, he led extensive counterterrorism operations and thwarted attacks,"Three Terrorists Planning Attacks Arrested," IDF Spokesperson, September 20, 2007. while easing measures for the civilian population. Among his brigade's achievements was the elimination of Fadi Al-Latif Kapisha, the leader of the Tanzim military wing in Nablus, killed by soldiers of the Haruv Battalion.Efrat Weiss and Ali Waked, "IDF Kills Senior Al-Aqsa Martyrs Brigades Member in Nablus," Ynet, August 31, 2006. He published an internal book in the IDF, "Fortress City",Elad Erdan, "Soon on the Bookshelves? This Is How They Fight in Nablus' Kasbah," from the "Shavuz" website, July 21, 2008. documenting methods of combat in dense and underground urban areas. He completed his term as brigade commander in 2008.
He then went on to study at the Royal College of Defence Studies (RCDS) in London and simultaneously earned a master's degree in International Relations with honors from King's College London. Upon returning, he was appointed in January 2010 as commander of the 162nd Division, serving until March 2011. On 14 April 2011, he was appointed commander of the Paratroopers Brigade.New Commander for the Paratrooper Brigade: Col. Amir Baram, Nana10, April 14, 2011Gal Perl Finkel, "World War in Rosh HaAyin and the Kinneret", Makor Rishon, July 27, 2020 During his command, he reinstated full brigade parachute training, and in January 2012, he led the brigade in its first full brigade parachute exercise in fifteen years.Florit Shuichat, IDF Website, "For the First Time in 15 Years: Paratrooper Brigade Soldiers Conduct Operational Parachuting Exercise", IDF Spokesperson, January 18, 2012 He completed his role on 16 May 2013.
2013–2019 On October 10, 2013, he was promoted to Brigadier General and appointed commander of the Fire Formation,New Commander of the "Fire" Division: Brig. Gen. Amir Baram," IDF Spokesperson, October 10, 2013. serving until July 2, 2015. On August 2, 2015, he was appointed commander of the Galilee Division,Yohai Ofer, "The Chief of Staff Orders a Series of Senior Appointments in the Army," nrg, September 22, 2014.Ido Ben Porat, "The Mission - To Deter, Protect, and Win," Arutz Sheva, August 2, 2015. serving until July 18, 2017.Ido Ben Porat, "Northern Command Chief: 'We Do Not Seek Confrontation,'" Arutz Sheva, July 18, 2017. During his command, Samir Kuntar was eliminated, and Hezbollah responded with a roadside bomb on Mount Dov, an incident in which there were no casualties. On 7 December 2017, he was promoted to Major General and appointed commander of the Northern Corps, and on 3 January 2018, he simultaneously assumed the position of commander of the IDF Command and Staff College. He held the position at the military colleges until March 11, 2019, and his role as commander of the Northern Corps until 26 September 2019.
Commander of the Northern Command On April 3, 2019, he was appointed commander of the Northern Command.Nir Dvori, "New Northern Command Chief: Major General Amir Baram," mako, February 17, 2019. During his tenure, he initiated a standard assessment test, which was completed by all regular and reserve brigades designated to participate in combat in the north.Gal Perl Finkel, "Momentum Needed for Ground Forces," INSS, July 6, 2020. Under his command, the Northern Command led numerous covert operations in southern Syria as part of the campaign between wars (CBW),Alex Fishman, "The Golan Drama," Yedioth Ahronoth, July 6, 2020. including airstrikes, ground raids, and targeted killings.Ben Caspit, "Kahlon's Departure Taught Us How Netanyahu Runs the State," Maariv, September 11, 2022. These actions prevented Iran's efforts to establish a front against Israel in the Syrian Golan Heights, similar to the one established in Lebanon.Amos Harel, "In Its Declared Efforts to Quell West Bank Violence, Israel Is Actually Stoking It," Haaretz, September 9, 2022. In September 2019, he led the command's forces during a day of battle with Hezbollah, in which Hezbollah militants fired anti-tank missiles at IDF posts and an IDF ambulance near the border."Opinion: Hezbollah's Precision Project Is a Just Cause for War for Israel," Globes, February 23, 2020. In July 2020, he led the command's forces during another day of battle with Hezbollah, during which a Hezbollah cell attempted to infiltrate Mount Dov, was detected, and fled.Amos Harel, "The Incident at the Lebanon Border Ended in a Tie with No Casualties. It Is Doubtful if Hezbollah Will Settle for That," Haaretz, July 27, 2020. In August 2020, after Hezbollah snipers fired at an IDF force moving along the fence near Manara, he led a limited operation that targeted several Hezbollah positions near the border.Gal Perl Finkel, "Nasrallah Is Waiting for an Opportunity: We Must Set a New Deterrence Equation," Makor Rishon, September 23, 2020. He held this position until 11 September 2022."New Northern Command Chief, Major General Ori Gordin, Assumes Command," IDF Spokesperson, September 11, 2022. On 31 October 2022, he was appointed Deputy Chief of Staff."Major General Amir Baram Assumes Role as Deputy Chief of Staff," IDF Spokesperson, October 31, 2022.
Swords of Iron war During Swords of Iron war, Baram assumed a senior role in IDF international arms and munition procurement efforts and participated in a battle in the al-Tuffah neighborhood in Gaza alongside soldiers."The Deputy Chief of Staff Says 'Move' and Fires at the House with the Terrorists: The Soldiers Who Found Themselves Fighting Alongside Major General Baram in Gaza," Israel Hayom.From deals with third-world countries to dubious middlemen: Inside the IDF's covert arms race During early January 2025, a correspondent by Baram was published which indicated a letter he wrote to IDF chief of staff asking for early resignation by February 2025, due to reductions in the war efforts intensity, feeling unused.
Director-General of the Ministry of Defense On 24 March 2025, he took office as Director-General of the Ministry of Defense. In his inaugural speech, he presented the ministry's goals under his leadership, including the formulation of a ministry strategy to ensure the defense system's ability to defeat any threat "from knife to nuclear", including unexpected threats. Baram emphasized the need to address conflicts in force building, encourage learning and reorganization, and prioritize "value accelerators" such as technology, human resources, new combat capabilities and defense industry industrialization, as well as strengthening the State's foreign relations.
Operations Rising Lion and Gideon's Chariots During Operation Rising Lion, Baram led the Ministry of Defense's activities in preparation and execution, and in coordination with the United States, which participated in operation of Israel's multi-layered defense system. The ministry absorbed air and sea shipments of combat means and ammunition, and signed agreements to strengthen force building, including accelerating the production of Arrow interceptors at Israel Aerospace Industries.