Military officials in Israel's Southern Command are sounding the alarm over increasing weapons and drug smuggling, along with potential terrorist infiltrations, along the Israel-Jordan border.
A Southern Command source noted, “Despite strong cooperation with the Jordanian military, the situation is getting more dangerous.”
In addition, local residents and reservists in the region have also expressed frustration, claiming the IDF is not adequately reinforcing border defenses. They point to large stretches protected by old barriers that can be easily breached. In the event of a surprise attack, it's very likely that emergency responders and local civilians would be left vulnerable until reinforcements arrived.
Reservists exp;ained that the vast terrain and a limited number of combat forces are a real challenge, because "“Getting from point to point takes way too long. It's simply unreasonable." They emphasized the urgent need for stronger defenses, especially compared to the fortified Egyptian border, arguing that the lack of serious barriers increases the risk of terrorist activity.
Who is LOTAR and how does it connect to this frightening threat?
The Eilat Counter-Terrorism Unit (LOTAR Eilat) is known for its flexibility and professionalism, but its limited because it's relatively small. This menas that it will have a hard time dealing with simultaneous threats.
Although reservists have noticed a rise in drone usage to monitor smuggling, efforts to implement drone detection and interception technology have not yet resulted in visible improvements. They criticized the insufficient funding for a new, stronger fence, which could help delay potential attackers, lamenting that planning discussions have not resulted in any actual changes on the ground.
“There's a real risk of an October 7-style incident happening,” one reservist warned.
In response, the IDF stated that it is actively adjusting its defense plans to address these evolving threats. They reported improvements in surveillance and observation capabilities along the border. They have also expanded standby units and are conducting ongoing training for local defense teams.
Recent exercises aimed at strengthening counter-terrorism measures have taken place, with more drills planned to enhance readiness.
An official military source confirmed that a divisional exercise simulating a surprise raid occurred in May, with another successful drill in July aimed at reinforcing defense strategies.
JPost contributed to this article.
