IDF says structural changes to military include bolstering border and air defense units

The Israeli military is advancing several changes to its structure and expanding some units, as part of lessons learned from Hamas’s October 7 attack, the IDF announces.

The decisions include bolstering border and air defense units, reviving a defunct armored brigade, establishing a new infantry brigade, and increasing the “strategic capabilities” of the Navy.

The effort, led by Deputy IDF Chief of Staff Maj. Gen. Tamir Yadai, is not meant to replace the army’s multi-year plan, which is a significantly longer process. Some of the moves Yadai is leading are supposed to be implemented within months.

As part of the changes to border defenses, the military says it seeks to bolster local security teams and regional defense squads, including by providing additional training and equipment.

Additionally, the IDF says it will be expanding its units on the borders with Lebanon and Syria. The 474th “Golan” Regional Brigade — responsible for the Golan Heights — and 810th “Mountains” Regional Brigade — responsible for Mount Hermon and Mount Dov — will both have additional forces and better equipment, to bring them up to the level of other light infantry brigades, so they can fight on their own if need be.

On the Jordan border, the IDF is in the midst of establishing a new eastern regional division, dubbed the Gilad Division, which is set to operate from the Israel-Jordan-Syria tri-border area in the north down to the Ramon Airport in southern Israel, encompassing the territory currently handled by the Jordan Valley and Yoav regional brigades.

The Gilad Division, part of the Central Command, will begin initial operations on August 1 and later expand its area of responsibility. Israel also plans to upgrade its fence on the border with Jordan in the coming years.

The division is set to be staffed by standing army troops as well as members of a new light infantry division, known as the 96th Division or the David Division, which itself is based on volunteer reservists.

So far, the 96th Division has recruited over 10,000 soldiers and commanders. It is set to have five brigades based on where the soldiers reside. In addition to operations on the Jordan and West Bank borders, the division’s members would also be ready to respond to sudden events in their respective regions, as they are slated to keep their weapons and equipment at their homes.

Following the departure of Maj. Gen. David Zini, who was appointed to head the Shin Bet security agency, from the military, the IDF is restructuring the Training Command, which he had headed.

The Training Command is being downgraded to a division, headed by Brig. Gen. Sharon Altit, and will encompass the School for Infantry Corps Professions and Squad Commanders, the Armored Corps training school, and the Bahad 1 officers’ school. It will be subordinate to the Ground Forces.

Until now, in wartime those training schools would turn into fighting brigades and be deployed under various other divisions. The new change will see the chief of the Training Division, currently Altit, command those units himself during ground operations.

Bahad 1 is also reorganizing, and will have 10 battalions instead of six, split up among the different professions that cadets are training for — combat officers and noncombat roles.

The officers’ school until now turned into the 261st Brigade during wartime. The IDF says it will be splitting the 261st Brigade from Bahad 1, and it will become a new reserve infantry brigade under the 252nd Division.

Meanwhile, the IDF says it is reviving the 500th Armored Brigade, which had been closed in 2003. Starting in 2026, the IDF will establish the unit’s tank battalions.

The military also plans to reestablish three Armored Corps’ patrol companies, a type of unit that was shuttered several years ago.

Also, the IDF says it plans to establish a fifth standing army combat engineering battalion, in addition to the 607th, which was established during the war.

Another Home Front Command Search and Rescue Battalion is also being established, and the IDF is looking at forming a new reserve battalion for ultra-Orthodox soldiers.

Additionally, the IDF says the Israeli Air Force would be further expanding its aerial defense array, and potentially add a new attack drone unit.

Meanwhile, the military says it seeks to expand the Navy to become a “long-range strategic arm,” similar to the IAF, and operate at distant locations with new capabilities.