43 IDF soldiers died in service in 2018
The year 2018 saw a significant drop in the rate of IDF soldiers who took their own lives while in uniform, while a total of 43 IDF soldiers lost their lives over the past year.
Kobi Richter/TPS
According to data published by the IDF’s manpower division on Wednesday, the 43 IDF casualties consist of a drop in the number of casualties when compared to the 55 soldiers who died while serving in 2017.
The casualties consisted of eight soldiers who were killed in action, two who were killed in training accidents, four who died in road accidents while in uniform, 10 killed in road accidents while on leave, 10 who died of health reasons and nine who are suspected of having committed suicide.
The number of suspected suicides has dramatically decreased in comparison with 2017 and in comparison to previous years in general. 2018 saw a 43 percent drop in comparison with 2017, during which 16 soldiers committed suicide.
“We welcome the reduction in the number of casualties and are doing everything possible to help reduce the numbers as much as much as possible,” an IDF official stated. “For us, each and every one of them is an entire world, and we continue to work and wish that next year their number will be zero.”
