As its war enters the twentieth month, Israel is increasingly deploying women to front-line combat roles across Gaza, Lebanon, and Syria, a shift driven by acute manpower shortages and changing perceptions of military gender norms.

From Checkpoints to Combat

Prior to the Hamas-led October 7 attack, women in the Israel Defense Forces (IDF) were largely confined to domestic security tasks like checkpoints and border patrols. Today, they’re embedded in elite commando operations, search-and-rescue missions, and ground invasions. “A year and a half ago, I would never have dreamed of leading a combat team within Lebanon or Gaza,” said one 25-year-old female major.

Record Female Combat Participation

Israel now counts over 4,500 female combat troops—21% of combat-designated personnel—compared to just 7% a decade ago. Women’s representation in mixed-gender units like search-and-rescue teams has soared, with some units now 70% female. The shift has helped relieve pressure on Israel’s overstretched reservist-based force.

Yet challenges remain: a pilot program to integrate women into Israel’s main infantry brigades was recently canceled due to high injury rates and concerns about meeting combat fitness standards.

Social Shifts and Strategic Necessity

The move to put more women in combat roles stems from a blend of ideology, equality, and necessity, according to experts. The Oct. 7 attack became a turning point—female tank crews in the Caracal Battalion defied deployment rules and fought Hamas directly, drawing praise from then-IDF chief Herzi Halevi.

Despite lingering resistance from religious sectors and concerns over potential capture risks, many commanders now recognize the operational effectiveness of women under fire.

Broader Conscription and Future Outlook

Israel’s military has also pushed to draft ultra-Orthodox men, though many continue to defy a recent Supreme Court ruling eliminating their exemption. Women remain one of the few viable sources to ease the personnel gap without political or social upheaval.

Plans are underway to expand mixed-gender combat units, with a new company set to launch in August.