793 troops killed since start of war, IOF say, amid manpower shortage
The Israeli Army Radio says the combat formation of the Israeli military in 2024 currently stands at 83% of required levels.
The Israeli occupation military has published updated data that it claims represent the number and classifications of its casualties since the start of the war on October 7, 2023.
While frequently concealing casualty figures as part of a systematic policy under the guise of "military censorship", the Israeli military, according to these new figures, has admitted to the killing of 793 soldiers since the beginning of the war.
The data also reveal that 192 Israeli officers have been killed, indicating that one in four killed officers was a commander. Among the killed are 67 platoon commanders, 63 company commanders, 20 deputy company commanders, 7 battalion deputy commanders, 5 battalion commanders, and 4 brigade commanders.
Of the total fatalities, 48% were conscripts, 18% served in "permanent service", and 34% were reservists.
Just now, Israeli media reported that a Golani Brigade officer was killed and another was seriously injured in battles in South Lebanon.
Yesterday, Channel 14 reported that within 48 hours, 11 Israeli officers and soldiers were killed and more than 10 others were injured in battles in Gaza and Lebanon.
Meanwhile, military experts believe that "Israel" is covering up the true soldier death toll.
Ongoing Resistance operations in Gaza and Lebanon continue to intensify the losses for the Israeli military, with the Israeli Army Radio reporting that the Israeli Ministry of Security is preparing to expand the military cemetery on Mount Herzl in occupied al-Quds.
The report noted that 600 new graves will be added to bury Israeli soldiers, a decision prompted by escalating tensions and an increased need for burial space for military personnel.
According to Army Radio, the Israeli Ministry of Security will allocate an additional 7.7 dunams for the military cemetery, with expansion work expected to conclude soon to meet the military's growing requirements.
Read more: IOF say platoon Cmdr, 5 Golani soldiers killed in southern Lebanon
Israeli military lost two divisions, needs 7,000 recruits urgently
In a related context, Doron Kadosh, a reporter for Israeli Army Radio, highlighted that the combat formation of the Israeli military in 2024 currently stands at 83% of the required levels, signaling a manpower crisis.
These percentages reflect the significant losses in fatalities and injuries since the beginning of the war, according to Army Radio.
The news outlet predicts that the Israeli military's combat formation will drop to only 81% of its needs by 2025, noting that extending the regular service to three years would raise this figure to 96%.
It pointed out that the military has urged Israeli political leaders to quickly approve legislation to extend regular service to 36 months without linking this legislation to other issues concerning the conscription of ultra-Orthodox Jews and reserve service, emphasizing that "this matter is urgent and an immediate need."
According to Israeli Army Radio, "Of the 3,000 draft orders issued to ultra-Orthodox recruits, less than 4% enlisted in service," attributed to political support provided by ministers like Itamar Ben-Gvir for ultra-Orthodox yeshiva students.
Israeli media have described the situation on the ground as difficult, with the military needing 7,000 recruits urgently.
They indicated that 18,000 reservists are combat soldiers, and 20,000 are in combat support roles listed as part of the Israeli army reserve force, but they "do not respond when called up," according to data from the Israeli military's Manpower Directorate.
The Israeli newspaper Maariv has also reported that "Israel" has been fighting a regional war on seven fronts for over a year, during which the military has lost almost two divisions, facing a severe shortage of soldiers even before accounting for the number of killed and wounded.
Read more: Israeli army chiefs push Netanyahu for ceasefire amid heavy casualties