SCOOP: Russia, US lead 78-country roster of 'olim' recruits in latest IDF draft
More than 2,500 immigrants from around the world are joining the Israel Defense Forces as part of the July-August 2026 draft cohort, alongside hundreds of lone soldiers and recruits from every sector of Israeli society, according to figures shared exclusively with JNS by an IDF military official.The largest numbers of immigrant recruits are from Russia (512), the United States (489), Ukraine (410), Ethiopia (259) and France (192).The cohort includes 392 new olim (immigrants)—246 men and 146 women—along with 2,127 veteran olim. Combined, the immigrants come from 78 countries around the world.The inductees also include 449 “lone soldiers”—233 men and 216 women—who are immigrant enlistees with no immediate family in Israel.The IDF said the cohort includes recruits born in countries including Armenia, Bulgaria, Chile, Croatia, Cyprus, Ecuador, Estonia, Haiti, Honduras, Iraq, Kenya, Luxembourg, Morocco, Nigeria, Portugal, Slovakia, Uganda, the United Arab Emirates and Yemen.Beyond its international makeup, the draft cohort also…
The July-August 2026 Israel Defense Forces (IDF) draft cohort includes over 2,500 immigrants from 78 countries, alongside hundreds of lone soldiers and recruits from diverse Israeli society. The largest contingents of immigrant recruits are from Russia (512), the United States (489), Ukraine (410), Ethiopia (259), and France (192). This cohort comprises 392 new immigrants and 2,127 veteran immigrants, with 449 lone soldiers among them. An IDF military official stated, “The July-August 2026 draft cohort brings thousands of new recruits to the IDF from different countries, communities and religions,” highlighting the IDF's role as a national institution during a challenging period.
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