Israeli military ammunition use matches 30-year total in under three years

The Israeli military has consumed as much ammunition in less than three years of conflict as it did during the previous three decades, according to a report by the Israeli newspaper Maariv. This surge in usage has placed significant pressure on the military's personnel, equipment, and finances.

Air Force activity during this period has been equivalent to approximately nine years of normal operations, while tanks and armored personnel carriers have consumed thousands of engines. While equipment can be repaired or replaced, the report warns that the impact on personnel is much harder to recover from. The army has lost 1,138 participants, with 11,730 others suffering physical or psychological injuries, though thousands more may suffer from psychological trauma.

Financial and structural strains are also evident. The military maintains an average of 53,000 reservists on active duty daily. Last year, just one month of reserve service cost approximately 2.1 billion shekels ($703 million), an amount comparable to the cost of seven F-35 fighter jets or 70 Merkava tanks. Currently, Israeli forces are deployed across Gaza, Lebanon, Syria, and the West Bank.