Israel Reactivates 45 Jordan Border Bases, Forms Division 96 Against Iran-Linked Threats
Updated
Updated · Fox News · Jul 6
Israel Reactivates 45 Jordan Border Bases, Forms Division 96 Against Iran-Linked Threats
1 articles · Updated · Fox News · Jul 6
Summary
Israel has reactivated 45 military bases along the Jordan border and set up Division 96 after the Oct. 7, 2023 Hamas attack, expanding defenses in the Jordan Valley.
The buildup is meant to block what the IDF calls new threat routes tied to Iran, including terrorism, weapons and narcotics smuggling, and illegal border crossings by Palestinians seeking work.
Division 96 covers about 242 miles of territory and has thwarted more than 20 smuggling attempts this year, while a new three-layer border system adds outposts, a wall and reoccupied bases.
The IDF also increased reserve forces by adding five battalions, saying lessons from Oct. 7 and missile fire into the Jordan Valley during Israel's war with Iran drove the overhaul.
Israel says the Jordan frontier remains a peace border under the 1994 treaty, but argues the fragile regional ceasefire and Iran's efforts to destabilize Jordan have raised the strategic stakes.
With 45 bases reactivated, is Israel securing its border or cementing permanent military control over the West Bank?
Is Israel's new border wall a defense against Iran or a tool for displacing Palestinians in the West Bank?
Caught between Iran and Israel, can Jordan survive as a stable partner while its US alliance makes it a target?
Israel’s 2026 Eastern Border Overhaul: Military Expansion, Smart Tech, and the Post-Iran War Landscape
Overview
In July 2026, Israel began a major shift in its military strategy along the eastern border with Jordan. This change started with decisions by the Israel Defense Forces in mid-2025 to overhaul their posture. The IDF reactivated old military infrastructure and created new operational units, including reviving an armored brigade and forming a new infantry brigade. These units became part of a new division, such as the 96th 'Gilad' Division, focused on the eastern sector. Alongside these changes, Israel invested heavily in advanced border fortifications and new technologies to strengthen security and rapid response capabilities.