Israeli Chief of Staff Zamir: Israeli army faces risk of collapse

Drawing attention to the personnel crisis within the Israel Defense Forces (IDF), Zamir stated that the Israeli army is facing the risk of collapse. "Before long, the IDF will not be ready for its routine missions, and the reserve system will also lose its functionality," Zamir said.

According to reports in the Israeli press, Zamir stated that the Israel Defense Forces (IDF) are experiencing a personnel crisis and that the army is "facing the risk of collapse" due to increasing operational demands and a growing labor shortage. During the meeting, Zamir told ministers, "I am raising 10 warning flags before the IDF collapses from within."

Stating that the IDF needs laws to extend mandatory military service, reserve duty, and the duration of compulsory service, Zamir remarked, "Before long, the IDF will not be ready for its routine missions, and the reserve system will also lose its functionality."

Zamir had issued warnings before

It is known that the Israeli Chief of Staff has made similar warnings in recent months. In a stern letter sent to Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and other senior officials in January, Zamir had warned that the shortage of soldiers could negatively affect Israel's military readiness in the very near future.

Demand for general military exemption in Israel

Ultra-Orthodox parties in Israel had demanded a law that would prevent the conscription of their constituents after the Israeli Supreme Court ruled in June 2024 that the decades-long general military exemption for Haredi Jews had no legal basis. It is currently estimated that approximately 80,000 Ultra-Orthodox men between the ages of 18 and 24 are eligible for military service but have not been drafted.

News Source: İHA