IDF begins scaling back role in fight against coronavirus

The Israel Defense Forces is scaling back its participation in the national fight against the coronavirus as the crisis appears to calm after its first deadly wave, the army’s spokesperson says.

Though the IDF Home Front Command plans to continue distributing food and other assistance in the cities of Jerusalem and Bnei Brak, the combat troops that had been taking part in the effort are being released back to their normal training schedule, IDF spokesman Hidai Zilberman says.

The number of soldiers assisting police enforce the national lockdown has also been halved, from some 1,400 soldiers to 700, he says.

In the coming weeks, the IDF also plans to begin releasing the roughly 2,000 reservists that had been brought into the Home Front Command, beginning with a 10 to 20 percent cut next week, followed by a more gradual reduction thereafter, according to Zilberman.

— Judah Ari Gross