From the Liveblog of
Wednesday, January 7, 2026
Defense Ministry clears old minefields as work expands on Jordan border security barrier
Add ToI as a Preferred Source on GoogleStav Levaton is a military reporter for The Times of Israel
The Defense Ministry says it has expanded work on a new security barrier along the Jordanian border, with authorities destroying hundreds of old landmines in the area.
According to the ministry, the Mine and Unexploded Ordnance Clearance Authority carried out controlled detonations yesterday to clear three minefields, destroying some 500 anti-tank mines laid in the area since the late 1960s.
The mine-clearing is part of broader construction work being carried out by the Defense Ministry and the IDF Central Command.
The project, aimed at strengthening security and strategic control along Israel’s eastern border, is estimated to cost around NIS 5.5 billion ($1.7 billion) and includes a multilayered barrier spanning roughly 500 kilometers, from south of the Golan Heights to the Samar Sands north of Eilat.
The Defense Ministry says the effort is a central pillar of its security strategy, led by Defense Minister Israel Katz and Defense Ministry Director General Amir Baram, and is integrated into a revised IDF security strategy that includes the establishment of a new regional division, the 96th Division, responsible for the Jordan Valley, surrounding valleys and the Dead Sea area.
The Times of Israel Community.