The Israeli military has created a new division to secure its border with Jordan, following Hamas' terrorist invasion of the country's southern border in October 2023. The 96th army division is tasked with thwarting new security threats along the border, including terrorism, narcotics and weapons smuggling, and illegal entry of Palestinians seeking work in Israel.
Despite the Jordanian border being considered a "peace border," an Israeli military official noted that there is a strategic competition over Jordan, with Iran's regime seeking to exploit the situation. The official stated that the regime understands the border's strategic advantage for its enemies, who seek to be present there.
The Jordan Valley, where the division is stationed, is a region of great historical and biblical significance. It is where Joshua led the Jews into Israel and where John the Baptist led his ministry and baptisms, including Jesus'. The region has been labeled the "Original Bible Belt" due to its importance in the origins of Christianity and Judaism.
As part of its efforts to secure the Jordan Valley, the IDF has reactivated 45 military bases spread out between Israel and Jordan. These bases were built after the 1967 Six-Day War and were discontinued in the late 1990s. The 96th division oversees the sprawling bases, which include bunkers and other defensive structures.
Since the beginning of the year, Division 96 has thwarted more than 20 smuggling attempts involving weapons and narcotics. The division's military official stated that the army's job is to ensure that everyone can live in the region in peace, and that the division is working to build a new wall to prevent illegal entry into Israel.
The new Israeli border system in the Jordan Valley is demarcated by three layers: a military outpost, a wall, and military bases. The army has also increased the number of reserve soldiers, including five battalions of soldiers who were never engaged in service or finished their service and wish to return to duty.
The military bases inspected by Fox News Digital are located in Area C in the disputed West Bank territory, which is home to nearly 500,000 Israelis and around 300,000 Palestinians. The Oslo Accords, signed between Israel and the Palestine Liberation Organization in 1993, stipulated military and civilian control over Area C was absorbed by the IDF.
The military official stated that the Israeli army shares the same agenda as Jordan: to keep the border peaceful and prevent any instability in the region.
