Shockwaves in the Israeli army: one-third of senior commanders set to exit

Al Jazeera reported on Monday that, according to the army’s assessment, Israel’s military is suffering from a major manpower shortage within its command structure.

The report states that the Israeli army is facing a deficit of 1,300 officers from the ranks of lieutenant to captain across all combat units—positions that form the backbone of unit management and day-to-day operational execution.

It further shows that Israeli combat units are short of 300 majors, officers responsible for mid-level and operational leadership within the military hierarchy.

According to the report, the army has confirmed that 30% of its senior commanders are expected to leave the military next year. The army says this is part of an ongoing trend that has now escalated into a full-fledged manpower crisis.

The assessment also notes that 70% of the families of reserve forces are experiencing a “crisis” due to prolonged periods of service—an issue that has resulted in reduced readiness and operational capacity. As a consequence, the army estimates that 30% of reserve troops and permanent-service personnel may not return to their units next year.

Another major indicator highlighted by the report is the sharp decline in officers’ willingness to continue their service. According to the data, only 37% of officers this year have expressed readiness to continue serving, compared to 58% in 2018.

The Israeli army concludes that these combined trends have reached a point that now threatens the security of the Israeli regime and must be recognized as a serious crisis.