Former Israeli General Warns of Severe Military Manpower Crisis
Retired Israeli army general Yitzhak Brik has described the state of Israel’s military forces as critical, warning of a sharp decline in troop numbers and weakened military preparedness. In an interview published in Hebrew-language media, Brik said the Israeli army is facing an “unprecedented crisis” in manpower that seriously threatens its military capacity.
He added that thousands of officers and soldiers are attempting to leave the service, and the younger Israeli generation shows little interest in long-term military careers. According to Brik, this trend endangers the future of Israel’s defense establishment in the face of regional threats.
Brik noted that compared to two decades ago, the size of Israel’s ground forces has been reduced to one-third. He also acknowledged that, in terms of quantity, quality of equipment, and technical readiness, the military currently lacks the necessary capability to contend with a large-scale regional war.
The former general’s remarks come amid growing criticism of Israel’s military and security policies in recent weeks and months, particularly from within the country’s former leadership structures. The international community is also closely monitoring the escalating tensions in the region.
