Israel is facing a shortage of army reservists

NPR | By Emily Feng

Published August 5, 2026 at 4:22 PM EDT

Israel is facing a substantial shortage in troop numbers as reservists, exhausted from war, are failing to turn up for duty. Experts say Israel's multiple war fronts are putting a huge mental, political, and financial strain on reservists.

Emily Feng

Emily Feng is a White House correspondent at NPR. Previously, she was a foreign correspondent for NPR covering China, Taiwan and beyond.

See stories by Emily Feng

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