Nearly three years after October 7, the IDF is overhauling its defenses along the Jordanian border, where extensive breaches, sophisticated smuggling networks and the threat of terrorist infiltration have transformed what was once considered one of Israel’s quietest sectors into a growing security concern.
A special i24NEWS tour with forces operating in the area revealed a troubling picture along the line of Water Line outposts on the Israel-Jordan border. Lurking beneath the calm is a complex and troubling reality. Much of the border remains open, with no fence at all in the Arava region. And breaches have been discovered in sections that are “protected” with a security fence.
The area has become a hub for sophisticated smuggling networks that move illegal entrants and weapons into Israel. The networks coordinate internationally through social media, arrange flights to Jordan for people from countries including Thailand, Japan, China, and Turkey, transport them to the border, and then arrange pickups on the Israeli side using vehicles and taxis operated by criminal organizations.
While the activity includes illegal labor migration and large-scale drug and weapons smuggling, the security establishment views these networks as a “ticking time bomb.” The central concern is that hostile elements or terrorists could exploit the same routes to enter Israel and carry out serious attacks.
As part of the lessons learned from October 7, the IDF has made dramatic changes to the deployment of forces along the eastern border. Division 96 has been established, and a large-scale operation is underway to restore and reoccupy the “Water Line” outposts, security structures that had stood abandoned since the 1970s.
Soldiers are working around the clock to bring the positions back into service, creating a forward defensive line intended to be the first to encounter an enemy in the event of an attack.
The forces face a dual operational challenge, with responsibility for both the eastern front facing Jordan and the western front bordering Yehuda and Shomron.
Alongside the construction of a new security fence and the installation of advanced technological systems, commanders stress that constant readiness, vigilance and a determination to engage the enemy remain the foundation of the defense.
“The quiet and pastoral atmosphere do not reassure us. We are always on alert and always vigilant,” a soldier in the battalion said. “We don’t believe that quiet truly gives us peace of mind. We understand that, ultimately, this is what will allow us to encounter the enemy in time. Our soldiers get up every morning and work as hard as possible to maintain normal daily life and allow residents to feel fully protected.”
(YWN Israel Desk—Jerusalem)
