what is idf israel

The Israel Defense Forces (IDF) is the national military of the State of Israel. It was formed on May 26, 1948, shortly after the Israeli Declaration of Independence, and has participated in every armed conflict involving Israel since then. The IDF consists of three service branches: the Israeli Ground Forces, the Israeli Air Force, and the Israeli Navy. Its mission is to defend the existence, territorial integrity, and sovereignty of the state of Israel, to protect the inhabitants of Israel, and to combat all forms of terrorism that threaten daily life. The IDFs guiding principles have been shaped by the countrys need to defend itself from its numerically superior neighbors, and one such principle is the belief that Israel cannot afford to lose a single war. Military service is compulsory for Jews and Druze, both men and women, and for Circassian men. The IDF is headed by the Chief of the General Staff, who is subordinate to the Israeli Defense Minister. The IDF has specialized infantry units, such as the Nahal Brigade, the Kfir Brigade, the Combat Engineering Corps, and the Paratroopers. The IDF also has an education unit, an entertainment unit, and media-related units. The army has made an invaluable contribution to Israels economy by seeking out cutting-edge technology and encouraging soldiers to use the equipment creatively.