Reservists in the Iron Swords War
By:
Col. (Res.) Dr. Ronen Itsik
Sep 1, 2025
This comprehensive document examines the impact of the "Iron Swords" conflict on Israeli military reservists, focusing on their motivation, commitment, and willingness to serve in a prolonged multi-front war. Based on a survey of 742 respondents conducted one month after the outbreak of hostilities, this analysis explores how the October 7th, 2023 attacks and subsequent military mobilization have affected reservists' perspectives on service, their confidence in achieving military objectives, and the socioeconomic factors influencing their continued participation.
1. Historical Context: The Unprecedented Nature of Iron Swords
The "Iron Swords" war represents a fundamental departure from Israel's previous military conflicts in both scale and nature. Unlike limited operations of recent decades, this conflict erupted following a catastrophic defensive failure that resulted in hundreds of civilian casualties and over 250 hostages taken on October 7th, 2023.
Gaza Front - Major ground operation against Hamas terrorist organization, requiring significant infantry and armored forces.
Northern Border - Ongoing conflict with Hezbollah terrorist organization launching rockets from Lebanon into Israeli territory.
Golan Heights - Confrontation with Shiite militias operating from Syria, requiring defensive deployments.
West Bank - Increased Palestinian terrorism requiring security operations and presence throughout the territory.Golan Heights
Houthis in Yemen - Launching missiles…





