(Israel Hayom/Exclusive to JNS.org) The upward swing in the number of women in combat units of the Israel Defense Forces (IDF) continues, with about 2,800 women slated to serve in combat roles this year.

The number of women serving in combat roles in the IDF’s Home Front Command is up 38 percent this year, while the number of female combat soldiers in artillery units is up 19 percent. The Israeli Navy has seen the number of women in combat roles increase by 93 percent, and the number of women in combat service in Israel’s Border Police has doubled. The figures were revealed during a meeting of the Knesset Foreign Affairs and Defense Committee devoted to the subject of female IDF soldiers in combat roles.

Brig. Gen. Eran Shani, head of the Planning Brigade and Manpower Administration in the IDF Personnel Directorate, told the committee meeting that “as we are an army of the people, we aspire to integrate all population sectors and allow the greatest possible equality of opportunities. We have expanded the number of roles open to women, which now comprise 90 percent of all service positions in the IDF.”

Shani added that the military is working to establish its first-ever training base for mixed-gender battalions.