After months of fighting and strain, IDF Chief of Staff Lt. Gen. Eyal Zamir ordered steps to reduce pressure on troops, including more leave for fighters, a faster return to training, and consideration of greater use of special units. The moves come as the army prepares to scale down forces in southern Lebanon after the ceasefire with Hezbollah, with the goal of easing the burden on active-duty and reserve soldiers and restoring operational readiness that eroded during the war.
According to a report by Walla, Zamir held two manpower discussions over the past week and directed that brigade combat teams be allowed to take vacations and resume training more quickly. He also called for repairing operational capabilities that were damaged during the fighting. The decisions followed recent briefings from senior Ground Forces officers describing ongoing exhaustion among units deployed in the field.
Israeli military sources said the load on fighters, especially in the Lebanon sector, requires a fresh look at how forces are used. One informed source said, “Battalion and brigade commanders are busy following orders and asking for more missions, the main thing is not to be static, but we understand they have to slow down.” He said the ceasefire window should be used to allow troops rest and broader rotation.
At the same time, Zamir is examining a plan to expand the use of special forces in the more complex areas of southern Lebanon. Military sources said these units could cover larger areas and reduce the pressure now placed on regular battalions and companies. The plan has been presented to the chief of staff but has not yet received final approval. The IDF is also warning of a future manpower shortfall, with estimates in the discussions saying the force could reach a “red line” at the start of 2027 unless regular service is extended and the army finds a way to increase the number of personnel. Military officials say that without policy changes, including recruitment measures and more combat manpower, some regular units could be shut down because of the shortage.
