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Source: https://www.ynetnews.com/article/hyitmlvmwl
Iraqi Militias and Houthis Threaten to Reach Israel through Jordan
(Ynet News) Ron Ben-Yishai - In the past, the IDF maintained 46 outposts along the Jordan valley to detect and stop infiltrations by terrorists and smugglers crossing from Jordan. After the peace treaty with Jordan in 1994, the IDF gradually abandoned these positions. After Oct. 7, the IDF concluded that Israel's eastern border with Jordan required urgent reinforcement. The outposts are now manned and equipped with surveillance and firepower. At the core of Israel's updated defense concept for the eastern border is the conclusion that Iran has not abandoned its plan to encircle Israel with a "double ring of fire," meaning missiles and drones alongside infiltrating ground forces. The threat scenario now focuses on Shiite militias from Iraq and the Houthis from Yemen as most likely to attempt an attack through Jordan and southern Syria. Armed militias could drive quickly in pickup trucks from Iraq to Jordan's border, or to the Syrian Golan, within a matter of hours. Some 8,000 Yemeni foreign workers are present in Jordan, with several hundred believed to be affiliated with the Houthis. In 2024 the IDF set up a new division to include five reserve brigades of older Israelis who had previously been exempt, calling them to volunteer for reserve service as regional defense fighters in their home areas. In an emergency or a surprise assault they would be mobilized from home to take up preplanned positions. When the IDF called for volunteers, almost 15,000 previously exempt Israelis enlisted. On Monday, the Defense Ministry began constructing a ground barrier in the Jordan Valley similar to the obstacle along the Sinai border. The barrier is planned to run 500 km.