Fox News Digital was granted exclusive escorted access to frontline sites as Israel stepped up defenses along the Jordan Valley border, and IDF officials told Fox News Digital that Division 96 has thwarted more than 20 smuggling attempts this year. The military told Fox News Digital the measures include reactivating dozens of previously idled bases and new patrol patterns intended to deter weapons and narcotics trafficking.
What Fox News saw on the Jordan Valley border
Fox News Digital was escorted to multiple outposts and reopened bases along the Jordan Valley border, where IDF officials told Fox News Digital commanders have fortified positions, resumed routine inspections and reinforced previously dormant sites.
IDF officials told Fox News Digital that the reopening of facilities follows operational lessons learned after Oct. 7, 2023, including altered patrol patterns, greater use of reservists and hardened bunkers at forward posts used to shelter troops and civilians during rocket and missile exchanges.
Division 96: size, mission and bases
IDF officials told Fox News Digital Division 96 was formed shortly after Oct. 7, 2023, as a formation focused on the Jordan Valley front to centralize command and respond to cross-border threats, smuggling and incursions.
The military described to Fox News Digital that Division 96 oversees a broad operational area — the IDF cited roughly 250 air miles of responsibility (about 242.3 miles in the military estimate given to Fox News Digital) — and is the lead formation for dozens of sites reopened since last year.
Commanders and official IDF statements provided to Fox News Digital say the army has reactivated 45 military bases that were built after the 1967 Six-Day War and largely idled in the late 1990s; the military told Fox News Digital these sites now house personnel, equipment and reinforced shelters to protect forces and local residents.
How the three-layer defense works
IDF officials described to Fox News Digital a three-layer approach: a string of manned frontline outposts, a reconstructed border wall and rear-area military bases hosting Division 96 units and logistics.
At the frontline outposts, soldiers operate observation points and bunkers. The IDF told Fox News Digital these outposts serve as early warning and refuge when regional missile exchanges reach the valley.
The rebuilt border wall, the military told Fox News Digital, is intended to slow and detect illegal crossings and smuggling attempts; the reactivated bases provide rapid reinforcement, sustainment and command-and-control for operations across the sector.
Area C, civilians and cross-border risks
The IDF told Fox News Digital that many of the inspected sites are in Area C of the West Bank (commonly referenced by Israeli officials as part of Judea and Samaria), territory the military continues to administer under the Oslo arrangements.
Officials and the Fox News report cite population figures for Area C of nearly 500,000 Israelis and roughly 300,000 Palestinians, underscoring the mix of civilians, settlements and farmland that lie close to military lines, IDF officials told Fox News Digital.
Those officials told Fox News Digital the army’s stated mission is to protect residents and visitors, noting legal entry points from Jordan remain open while enforcement focuses on illegal crossings tied to labor-seeking, smuggling or security threats.
Reported threats and regional context
Fox News Digital, citing IDF officials and regional analysts, placed the fortifications in a wider context: the report relays that Iran and allied militant groups have sought avenues to project influence, and the military expressed concern those efforts could include attempts to destabilize neighboring states.
The Fox News Digital report and IDF officials said some actors view Jordan as a strategic target; Israeli and Jordanian authorities, the report notes, share an interest in preventing escalation along their mutual borders. The 1994 Israel-Jordan peace treaty was cited by officials to Fox News Digital as a continuing cornerstone of bilateral ties.
The IDF told Fox News Digital that since the start of the year Division 96 has thwarted “more than 20” smuggling attempts involving weapons and narcotics, a figure the military attributed to field reports, patrols and seizures.
What comes next for the Jordan Valley border
IDF officials told Fox News Digital inspections, construction and garrisoning will continue. The military said it plans to keep reactivated bases manned, maintain routine sweeps for tunnels and contraband, and call up additional reservists as needed to sustain operations.
The military also told Fox News Digital it will continue coordination with Jordanian counterparts to uphold cross-border security and the bilateral peace the two countries maintain, and it said the public should watch for further operational updates from the IDF on troop deployments and reserve call-ups.
FAQ
What is Division 96 and why was it formed?
Division 96 is an IDF formation created after Oct. 7, 2023, tasked with defending the Jordan Valley front. The military told Fox News Digital it was formed to centralize command and improve responses to smuggling, incursions and regional threats.
How many bases were reactivated along the Jordan Valley?
The IDF reported to Fox News Digital that it has reactivated 45 bases built after 1967 and mostly idled in the late 1990s; Fox News Digital was granted access to several of these facilities during reporting.
Did the report say Division 96 stopped smuggling attempts?
Yes. According to the IDF and as reported by Fox News Digital, Division 96 has thwarted “more than 20” smuggling attempts this year involving weapons and narcotics, a total the military attributes to patrols and seizures documented in field reports shared with Fox News Digital.
Reporting and exclusive access: Fox News Digital — Israel fortifies border with Jordan as Iran seeks new terror path.
