Israeli military short of up to 15,000 soldiers, presses for conscription legislation
Israel’s military is facing a shortfall of between 12,000 and 15,000 troops, including thousands of combat soldiers, and is pressing for new legislation to expand recruitment and update reserve service rules, IDF spokesperson Brig. Gen. Effie Defrin said.
Speaking at a recent briefing, Defrin said the army remains heavily understaffed and warned that the gap could widen further if changes to military service arrangements are not approved. He said the shortage includes roughly 7,000 to 8,000 combat troops, a deficit he linked to expanding operational demands on several fronts.
Defrin said the military needs parliament to pass legislation dealing with compulsory service and to revise reserve duty rules, arguing that the current legal framework no longer matches the scale of Israel’s present security demands. He said the existing reserve service law was designed for an earlier period and now needs to be reworked to better support reservists and active-duty soldiers.
According to Defrin, the manpower gap has practical consequences on the battlefield, including thinner staffing in combat units. He said the shortage effectively means fewer troops available at the battalion level, at a time when the army says its missions are continuing to expand.
The comments come amid a broader debate in Israel over military conscription and the growing strain on reserve forces. Recent reporting has shown senior military officials warning of mounting pressure on troop numbers as the army tries to sustain operations across multiple theatres.
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