Question
To what extent are soldiers expected to keep shabbat?
Answer
Jewish soldiers are required to observe all the laws of Shabbat. The halacha requires any Jew to perform actions that would be forbidden to others if these are necessary to save a life. Even when it is unclear that a particular action is necessary to save a life, all military operations deemed necessary by those in charge to maintain an adequate level of public security against a hostile threat are permitted and even required.
