What’s behind reports that the Israeli army is low on troops, equipment?

In recent days, Israeli media reports have claimed the military is running low on certain equipment and troops.

On Tuesday, Israel’s Channel 12 said the army had lost a planned purchase of 12 Apache attack helicopters from United States manufacturer Boeing.

The newspaper Maariv then reported on Friday that, on top of “severe” shortages, the Israeli military is preparing to suspend soldiers’ leave.

But is one of the world’s most heavily financed armed forces, which has received billions of US dollars from the US in recent years, really struggling with shortages?

Israeli newspaper Maariv reported: “The Israeli army does not have enough tanks and armoured personnel carriers,” adding that three years of war had worn down vehicles while hundreds have been damaged.

“For political reasons, Finance Minister Bezalel Smotrich can cut funding to the Israeli army and busy himself with complaints, while the opposition is preoccupied with internal struggles like reckless children,” the newspaper wrote.

Channel 12 reported that the planned purchase of a dozen Apache attack helicopters from Boeing failed to take place because of a shortfall in the army’s procurement budget.

The report came a day after Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu failed during a routine meeting to persuade opposition leader Yair Lapid to cooperate on increasing the military procurement budget.