Israel’s military chief has issued a serious warning about the country’s defense capabilities. Lt. Gen. Eyal Zamir told government officials that Israel’s armed forces are at risk of failing due to a lack of soldiers. He emphasized the need for new laws to increase conscription, expand reserve duty, and extend mandatory service.
Zamir’s comments came during a time of intense conflict. Israel has been involved in multiple fronts: airstrikes on Iran since late February, an invasion of Lebanon targeting Hezbollah, and rising tensions with Palestinians in the West Bank.
On March 26, Israel announced that one soldier was killed and four were injured in Hezbollah’s attack. Since fighting began on March 2, at least four Israeli soldiers have been killed. Hezbollah claims it is defending against Israel’s southern invasion by launching rockets into Israel. Lebanese officials report that over 1,070 people have been killed by Israeli strikes since mid-March, and more than a million have been forced to flee their homes.
Opposition leader Yair Lapid criticized Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s government for sending the army into multiple conflicts without proper planning or resources. He warned that the government cannot avoid responsibility this time.