Israel’s Military Grapples with Growing Troop Shortages

(MENAFN) Israel’s armed forces are confronting an escalating personnel crisis as they deploy across several regions, with senior officials cautioning about acute troop deficits, increasing operational pressures, and the threat of internal destabilization.

Military spokesperson Effie Defrin estimates that the army is lacking approximately 15,000 soldiers, including 7,000 to 8,000 combat personnel, as missions broaden across multiple theaters of operation.

“The army is suffering a shortage of about 15,000 soldiers, including 7,000 to 8,000 fighters,” he stated on Thursday, emphasizing that reinforcements are urgently required in Lebanon, Gaza, the West Bank, and Syria.

The alert coincides with Chief of Staff Eyal Zamir providing a stark evaluation of the military’s combat preparedness.

According to media reports, Zamir informed Israel’s Security Cabinet that the military is raising “10 red flags,” warning that reserve units “will not hold” under current demands.

“The army is heading toward internal collapse in light of the government’s failure to pass laws related to Haredi conscription, regulating reserve service and extending mandatory service,” he cautioned.

Zamir also noted that Israel’s military is conducting operations simultaneously in Lebanon, Gaza, Syria, Iran, and the West Bank, further exacerbating the strain on already overextended forces.

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