Salman Habaka was born in the village of Yanuh in the Galilee in 1990. He grew up in his parents’ home and attended elementary and middle school in his village. He completed 9th grade and high school at the Acre Naval Officers School.
He attended the Kerem El pre-military program in Daliyat al-Karmel.
He enlisted in the Armored Corps in 2009 and from there began advancing to the officers’ course until he reached the rank of Lieutenant Colonel and commanded Battalion 53 of the 188th Brigade.
Salman became famous as the hero of Kibbutz Be’eri and the savior of Golani’s 13th Battalion inside Gaza.
Salman was brave, loved the country, and gave his all for the army. He was humane with his soldiers, cared for them and their needs, and treated them as brothers, at eye level.
Salman was an exemplary commander, ensuring that his battalion would become a brand, and indeed it did.
May his memory be a blessing.
