Yaron, affectionately known as "Yaroni" by his family, was the youngest of five brothers in the Chitiz family. He was born and raised in Ra'anana, Israel. During his early education, he attended Yavneh School, and later, the Bnei Akiva yeshiva in Ra'anana.
In high school, he also served as a mentor for the Bnei Akiva branch's Yuval tribe, which specifically catered to children with disabilities.
After completing his studies, Yaron spent 18 months at the pre-military training school Elisha in Neve Tsuf.
His main passion was enjoying life. He was a die-hard Liverpool fan, a love he shared with his brothers and father, and even attended some of their matches before his passing. He enjoyed playing football every Friday and cherished sharing cold beer and good times with friends at the beach. He was also fond of amazing barbecues and never missed an opportunity to indulge.
Yaron enlisted in March 2020 in the Givati Brigade's Shaked Battalion. After completing his training, he was immediately assigned a leadership role, becoming a rookie commander for the March 2021 intake.
Following this position, he completed an officer training course and returned to serve as a platoon commander at the Givati Brigade's Air Force Base.
After eight months of duty at the base, he took on the role of platoon leader in Bahad 1's Lehav course, where he trained two teams during the basic phase of their officer training. For his last assignment, Yaron had to choose between serving as deputy commander of the rookie company and as deputy commander of the Shaked Battalion's operational company. He ultimately chose the latter to gain more operational experience.
Tragically, Yaron fell in battle on December 26, 2023, in Daraj Topah while acting as the deputy commander of the operational company in the Shaked Battalion. He was killed while confronting five terrorists who had infiltrated the building where his company was stationed. His brave encounter with the terrorists helped prevent a more devastating outcome and saved many of his soldiers.
Yaron's soldiers and fellow officers spoke of his ability to be a firm commander with a big heart. He pushed his team to their limits while caring deeply for each person under his command, both at the brigade and in Bahad 1. He was a kind-hearted man with a huge smile and a true professional in everything he did.
Written by Eitan Shmukler, a close friend of Yaron