Tel aviv: The Israeli army is facing a budget shortfall that is undermining its military readiness, Chief of Staff Eyal Zamir said Thursday. Zamir highlighted the financial challenges during a multi-front situational assessment, underscoring the impact on the Israel Defense Forces (IDF).

According to Anadolu Agency, Zamir expressed concerns over the IDF's financial constraints, emphasizing that they come at a critical time when personnel are engaged on all operational fronts. The lack of funds, he warned, poses a threat to the IDF's readiness.

The budget shortfall, reported by Israeli media to be around 40 billion shekels ($12.3 billion), is attributed to ongoing operational expenses and reserve-duty costs. This financial gap has sparked a dispute between Israel's Defense and Finance ministries over the allocation of additional military funding.

Furthermore, the funding dispute has stalled military procurement programs, affecting the planned acquisitions of fighter jets and munitions. Initially, Israel's 2026 defense budget was set at approximately 143 billion shekels, covering various military operations, as reported by the Knesset.