The Israeli occupation army announced today, Wednesday, the execution of military drills simulating a potential attack originating from the Jordanian border. This move comes amid increasing concerns over such potential threats.
Details of the Military Drills
In a statement, the Israeli army explained, “This week, a training exercise was conducted in the Jordan Valley and surrounding areas as part of the Israeli army’s efforts to enhance readiness and operational capability along the eastern border.”
The training, overseen by the Jordan Valley and Valleys Brigade, integrated both regular and reserve forces. It also included participation from elite units such as the YATAM unit, the METILAN Border Guard unit, and other specialized divisions within the Israeli army.
Simulated Scenarios and Challenges
The statement further highlighted the objective of the training, emphasizing the importance of preparing forces to confront a wide range of scenarios that mimic anticipated threats and challenges in the eastern border region.
The drills incorporated responses to various security incidents, including “terrorism threats, infiltrations, and other challenges,” as described by the Israeli army.
Plans to Build a Security Barrier
In late November, Israel’s Ministry of Defense announced plans to construct a “security barrier” along the Jordanian border.
A ministry statement noted, “Under the direction of Defense Minister Yisrael Katz, the Ministry of Defense has initiated detailed engineering plans for building a security barrier along the eastern border.”
The statement added, “The project is expected to take several months, aiming to enhance the readiness of the security apparatus to establish a barrier along the Jordanian border, in accordance with political decisions.”
Netanyahu’s Push for an Eastern Border Fence
Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has repeatedly emphasized the importance of constructing a “security fence” along the Jordanian border.
The call for such a project intensified following two high-profile security incidents:
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- The Allenby Crossing Attack (September 8): An attack that resulted in the deaths of three Israelis and the Jordanian attacker, Maher al-Jazi.
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- The Dead Sea Incident (October 18): In which two Israelis were injured, and two Jordanian assailants, Hussam Abu Ghazaleh and Amer Qawas, were killed.
Jordanian-Israeli Border Context
The Jordanian-Israeli border spans 335 kilometers, including 97 kilometers shared with the West Bank and 238 kilometers with Israel. The two sides are connected via three official border crossings:
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- Sheikh Hussein Bridge (Jordan River Crossing)
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- King Hussein Bridge (Allenby Crossing)
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- Wadi Araba Crossing (Yitzhak Rabin Crossing)
Regional Reactions
As of now, neither the Jordanian nor Palestinian authorities have issued an official response to the Israeli announcement of the drills or the proposed security barrier.
Analysis and Implications
The announcement of these military drills and the intent to build a security barrier align with Israel’s broader strategy of fortifying its borders. While framed as defensive measures, such actions also raise concerns about further marginalizing neighboring countries and escalating tensions in the region.
Observers note that the Allenby Crossing attack and other security incidents have been used as justification for increased militarization and border reinforcement. However, this approach risks provoking backlash from Jordan and heightening instability along the border.
