‘Israeli’ army suffers 12,000 soldier shortage amid Gaza war pressures
Note: AI technology was used to generate this article’s audio.
- ‘Israeli’ media reports a manpower gap of about 12,000 soldiers across combat and support units.
- Shortfall linked to multi-front aggression since October 2023, increasing strain on regular forces and reserves.
A report published by Yedioth Ahronoth says the ‘Israeli’ army is facing a significant manpower deficit of roughly 12,000 soldiers across its branches, as aggression continues on multiple fronts since October 7, 2023.
Combat units hit hardest
The shortfall includes about 7,500 soldiers in combat roles. The gap comes amid extensive deployments in the Gaza Strip, along the borders with Lebanon and Syria, and during ongoing operations in the occupied West Bank, according to the report.
The newspaper said the shortage is “doubling the burden” on regular troops and reserve forces, forcing extended service periods and repeated call-ups.
Official data presented to Knesset
The findings are based on official data presented in recent months to the Knesset Foreign Affairs and Security Committee by Brig. Gen. Shai Taib, head of the planning division in the army’s manpower directorate, alongside public statements by senior military officials on the operational impact of the deficit.
Read more: Former 'Israeli' PM warns of ‘Haredi state’ outside law in ‘Israel’
‘Israeli’ media estimates place the number of active-duty soldiers at about 170,000, with between 400,000 and 460,000 registered reservists. Despite those figures, the report notes that sustained deployments have exposed structural limits in manpower.
Reliance on reserves deepens
The report added that the army recently announced the formation of a new multi-mission division, most of whose personnel currently come from reserve units. The move underscores the continued heavy reliance on reservists as the manpower gap persists.
Regional escalation concerns
The assessment comes as attention turns to negotiations between Washington and Tehran. ‘Israeli’ estimates suggest that failure in the diplomatic track could increase the likelihood of wider escalation, particularly with Iran.
Preparations are continuing for a potential broad confrontation, even as ‘Israel’ maintains aggression on several fronts dating back to October 2023.
Toll of the Gaza war
Backed by the United States, ‘Israel’ launched a genocidal war on Gaza in October 2023 that lasted two years, killing more than 72,000 Palestinian martyrs and wounding over 171,000 others, most of them children and women. About 90 percent of civilian infrastructure in Gaza has been destroyed.
Since the start of the war, the ‘Israeli’ army has acknowledged the deaths of 924 soldiers and injuries to 6,420 others across the Gaza Strip, southern Lebanon, the West Bank, and Yemen.
