IDF Chief Warns of Severe Troop Shortage as Window to Extend Service Narrows

As Israel moves toward elections, the window to pass a law extending regular military service to 36 months is rapidly closing, and senior IDF officials say the consequences could be severe. Chief of Staff Eyal Zamir has repeatedly warned the political leadership in recent weeks about a serious manpower shortage, and he is now urging action within the next few weeks, before the legislative option disappears.

If the law is not changed, regular service would drop to 30 months in about half a year. The army says that by January 2027 it will be short about 12,000 fighters and combat-support soldiers, effectively one missing company in every battalion. Senior officers admit this would create a gap that would be extremely difficult, if not impossible, to close later.

The current shortage is already forcing the IDF to rely heavily on reservists and to keep extending their service. Military officials estimate that a 36-month regular service term would reduce reserve-duty call-ups by about 15 percent, equal to roughly 8,000 reserve days every day, with knock-on effects for the economy.

According to senior IDF figures, the army is struggling to convince the government to make the change. One official said, “If we do not change the decree, it will be a grave failure. We cannot get the government to understand that this must be changed. We have only a few weeks left. The war has not subsided, and this does not match the reality we are in.” The IDF is also considering asking the defense minister to shorten the current national service year, so fewer young people go to pre-army preparatory programs, and to extend the service of yeshiva students, who now serve one year and four months, so the army can meet operational needs.