Israeli commander killed in Lebanon, military confirms

The Israeli military has confirmed the death of Captain Eitan Itzhak Oster, a 22-year-old squad commander in the elite “Egoz” unit, during combat operations in Lebanon.

This marks the first combat death reported by Israel within Lebanese territory amid ongoing hostilities.

While the exact location of Oster’s death remains unclear, Hezbollah has claimed its fighters were engaged in clashes with Israeli forces attempting to infiltrate the southern border towns of Maroun Al Ras and Adaisseh. The incident comes after Hezbollah reported skirmishes with Israeli troops in the region.

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In a related development, a Lebanese soldier was injured in an Israeli drone strike in southern Lebanon, according to a statement from the Lebanese army.

Despite the army’s presence, southern Lebanon is largely under Hezbollah’s control. The Lebanese Armed Forces, which historically refrains from direct involvement in conflicts with Israel, has not fired on Israeli forces during the past year of hostilities.

Yesterday, a Lebanese security source told Reuters that Lebanese troops had withdrawn three miles from their positions along the Israeli border, underscoring the army’s continued stance on staying on the sidelines of the escalating tensions.