Israeli army admits to tank shortage due to losses in Gaza war

The Israeli military has, for the first time, admitted to experiencing a tank shortage due to losses sustained in the Gaza conflict, as reported by Israeli media.

According to an article in Yediot Ahronot, the Israeli army acknowledged that several tanks were damaged and a shortage of munitions led to a refusal to deploy female officers in the armored corps. The military disclosed this information to the High Court, citing the damages and shortages as the reason for not assigning women to these units.

The report highlights that the army requested the High Court to allow female officers in the armored corps to train only in non-combat drills. Israel Defense Forces (IDF) Chief of Staff Herzi Halevi has postponed the integration of women into the armored corps until the end of 2025 due to severe tank and munitions shortages.

“This is the first time the Israeli army has admitted to losing a significant number of tanks and facing a munitions shortage due to the Gaza war,” the article states.

The report also noted that many tanks were damaged in the Gaza conflict, rendering them unusable for combat or training. It further mentioned that new tanks are not expected to join the armored corps in the near future.