2017, have witnessed the highest number of suicide incidents among Israeli soldiers, according to the Israel Defence Forces (IDF).

Sixteen soldiers killed themselves last year, Middle East Monitor reported, citing IDF.

“Most of the suicides are soldiers in their first year of compulsory service, not during initial enlistment and preparation, but later during the first year of service,” the Head of the Manpower Planning and Administration Division in the IDF, Colonel Merav Kirshner said.

Earlier in October, Hebrew reports revealed that the number of suicide cases among the Israeli army soldiers is “constantly” mounting.

The IDF spokesperson said that in the last three years, the number of suicide cases have increased.

Back in 2016, around 15 IDF soldiers committed suicide, according to The Time of Israel.

The first suicide incident in 2018, took place on Wednesday, when a soldier killed himself with his own gun.