Since October 2023, when the war broke out, the IDF have steadily expanded the territory under their control. It began in the Gaza Strip, continued in Syria and the West Bank, and now includes a large area in Lebanon. All of this requires troops — even as mandatory service is expected to be shortened in about six months.
At the political level, which has pledged “at the request of the chief of staff” to pass a package of laws extending compulsory service — while also exempting tens of thousands of ultra-Orthodox men from enlistment — progress has stalled. Despite the promises, discussions are unlikely to take place next week as well.
About a month ago, IDF spokesman Brig. Gen. Effie Defrin presented what he described as a troubling picture: the military needs about 15,000 additional soldiers, including roughly 8,000 combat troops. Under these conditions, the physical deployment of forces has shifted significantly. More and more combat soldiers have been assigned to missions controlling buffer zones — in Lebanon, Syria and Gaza. With the standing army stretched to its limits, reservists are filling the gaps.
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