Eitan Oster

Eitan Yitzhak Oster (איתן יצחק אוסטר; December 21, 2001 – October 2, 2024) was an Israel Defense Forces officer in the Egoz reconnaissance unit of the Commando Brigade. He was killed in action during the Battle of Al-Aadaissah in southern Lebanon and became the first Israeli casualty during the ground operation in Lebanon during the Israel–Hezbollah conflict.

Following his death, Israel's Ministry of Defense named its laser air defense system "Or Eitan" ("Eitan's Light") in his memory.

Early life and education Oster was born in Re'ut, a neighborhood of Modi'in-Maccabim-Re'ut, the seventh of eight children. He attended the Netiv Zvulun elementary school and the Amit Modiin religious high school. After graduation, he studied for a year at the Machanayim Hesder Yeshiva in Gush Etzion. As a youth, he was a member and counselor in the Bnei Akiva youth movement.

Military service Oster was drafted into the Israel Defense Forces in November 2020, joining the Egoz reconnaissance unit of the Commando Brigade. During his training, he was recognized as an outstanding cadet.

In 2022 he attended the IDF Officers' Course and graduated in February 2023 from the Lahav track with honors. He subsequently served as a platoon commander for new recruits in Egoz and later commanded an operational team. In August 2023, he received the Commando Brigade's Outstanding Officer Award.

In January 2025, a path in Modi'in-Maccabim-Re'ut was named in his memory.

A lookout point in Neve Daniel was also inaugurated in his honor.

In September 2025, the Israeli Ministry of Defense unveiled the advanced laser interception system "Or Eitan", named after him, developed partly by his father, engineer Dov Oster.