Israeli Forces Overstretched, Facing Collapse: Opposition Leader

Israel’s opposition leader Yair Lapid warned that forces risk collapse under mounting troop shortages and multiple missions, echoing earlier concerns by Chief of Staff Lt. Gen. Eyal Zamir about severe strain on the military.

According to Israeli media, Zamir told ministers, “I am raising 10 red flags in front of you,” adding that “the IDF is going to collapse in on itself.” He said the military urgently requires new legislation on conscription, reserve duty, and extended mandatory service, cautioning that without changes, “the IDF will not be ready for its routine missions and the reserve system will not last.”

The remarks come as Israel continues to manage multiple security challenges, including the ongoing war with Iran and operations in Gaza, Lebanon, and the West Bank. Central Command chief Maj. Gen. Avi Bluth reportedly told the cabinet that government-approved settlement expansion in the West Bank has increased the burden on already stretched forces, requiring additional troops for security coverage.

“This is your policy, but it requires security and a full protection package,” Bluth said, according to Channel 12. He noted that conditions on the ground have changed and demand more manpower.

Military resources have also been redirected internally. This week, the Israel Defense Forces reassigned an infantry battalion originally designated for Lebanon to the West Bank following a rise in settler violence incidents. Officials indicated that additional deployments may be required.

Opposition figures criticized the government following the reported warnings. Opposition leader Yair Lapid said the government was “sending the army into a multi-front war without a strategy, without sufficient resources, and with too few soldiers.” He added, “This time, the government will not be able to say, ‘I didn’t know.’”

Lapid also called for increased efforts to draft ultra-Orthodox men, stating that continued exemptions pose a risk to military readiness. Former Prime Minister Naftali Bennett said the military is short of 20,000 soldiers and suggested that partial recruitment from the ultra-Orthodox population could address the gap.

Other political leaders, including Benny Gantz and Gadi Eisenkot, described the warning as serious and said the government could not claim lack of awareness. Yair Golan accused the government of neglecting reservists, while some ruling Likud lawmakers supported calls to expand recruitment.

However, other members of the ruling coalition criticized Zamir’s reported remarks. Allies of Likud lawmaker Boaz Bismuth described the comments as “irresponsible,” while MK Tally Gotliv called them “defeatism.”

The Prime Minister’s Office said opposition figures had distorted Zamir’s statements and maintained that the government is working to pass the required legislation, though it cited legal obstacles as a delaying factor.

The military has previously warned of personnel shortages, stating it requires around 12,000 additional recruits, mainly combat troops, due to sustained operational pressure. Zamir has also urged extending mandatory service back to 36 months, warning that upcoming reductions in service duration could further impact force readiness.

In a post on X, Lapid reiterated the urgency of the situation, stating: “The chief of staff laid out before the cabinet a whole series of threats… the government is sending the army into a multi-front war without a strategy, without sufficient resources, and with too few soldiers.”

He added: “The warning has been given… You cannot continue to abandon Israel’s security, in wartime, for petty politics.”