Colonel Netanel Lasri, known to colleagues as Nati, has died at the age of 40 following a three-year struggle with cancer. At the time of his passing, he was serving as head of the Planning Department within the Israel Defense Forces Ground Forces Command and had previously led the Golan and Hermon Brigade. He is survived by his wife and three children.
Throughout his military career, Lasri was considered one of the most talented and well-respected officers within the IDF’s Armored Corps and combat divisions.
Lasri was born in Lod and participated in the city’s Scouts movement before enlisting in the IDF in 2004, joining the 401st Armored Brigade. Over the course of more than two decades of service, he took part in numerous significant Israeli military operations.
During the Second Lebanon War, he served as a tank crewman. He went on to fill several command roles within the Gaza Division, including serving as a battalion operations officer during Operation Cast Lead and as a deputy company commander during Operation Hot Winter.
While leading an operational company in the 52nd Battalion, Lasri directed forces in halting a complex terrorist attack near the area where the borders of Israel, Egypt, and Gaza converge. That mission earned him a formal commendation from the Gaza Division commander.
His leadership during Operation Pillar of Defense as a company commander was recognized with a certificate of excellence presented by the IDF chief of staff.
Lasri also took part in Operation Protective Edge, this time commanding the Tank Commanders Course training company. He later served as deputy commander of the 52nd Battalion and as an aide to the head of the Operations Directorate.
From 2019 through 2021, he commanded the 9th Battalion, and afterward served as operations officer of the 162nd Division.
In August 2023, Lasri was appointed to lead the Golan and Hermon Brigade, a post he held through April 2024. Despite his ongoing illness, he took on his final assignment in May 2025, heading the Planning Department within the Ground Forces Command.
Over the course of his service, Lasri received the IDF chief of staff’s citation along with several other military honors and commendations.
