Israel Opp’n leader warns of ‘security disaster’ amid troop shortage: Reports

Israeli Opposition leader Yair Lapid has reportedly accused the government of pushing the country towards a “security disaster” due to a shortage of combat soldiers, amid ongoing military operations on multiple fronts.

Talking to local media, Lapid reportedly said the Israel Defense Forces was “stretched to the limit”, alleging that the government was sending troops into a multi-front conflict without adequate planning or manpower.

“The army does not have enough soldiers for its missions,” he reportedly said, adding that reservists were being deployed repeatedly and were “worn out and exhausted”.

As per reports, IDF chief Lt Gen Eyal Zamir warned the security cabinet that the military was under severe strain, with some reports suggesting it was nearing a breaking point.

Military spokesperson Brig Gen Effie Defrin acknowledged the need for additional combat troops, particularly on the Lebanese front, as well as in Gaza, the occupied West Bank and Syria.

Lapid called for the recruitment of men from the ultra-Orthodox Haredi community, who have historically been exempt from mandatory military service, urging the government to take immediate steps to expand the pool of soldiers.

He also called for legislative changes, including new conscription and reserve duty laws, to address the manpower shortage.

According to reports, Zamir warned that without urgent measures, the military could face operational difficulties in sustaining both routine and combat missions.

The remarks come as Israel remains engaged in hostilities across the region, including operations in Lebanon and Gaza, alongside tensions involving Iran and Syria.

Separately, the military said two soldiers were killed during operations in southern Lebanon, taking the total number of Israeli troops killed in the area to four in recent weeks.