Ex-IDF official warns of Jordanian border invasion risk

Retired Lt. Col. Amit Yagur stressed Israel’s lack of strategic depth makes its eastern border critical.

By World Israel News Staff

A retired senior Israeli military official has warned of the risk of an invasion from Jordan and stressed the importance of securing Israel’s long eastern border in an interview with Hebrew-language Channel 14 on Monday.

Lt. Col. (res.) Amit Yagur praised the Israeli military’s recent large-scale drill along the Jordanian border, which simulated a ground invasion by terrorists under the cover of heavy rocket fire from the east. He emphasized that the Jewish state must be ready, should such a scenario materialize.

“Jordan is a major playground for [Israel’s enemies to the] east, Iran and other countries. I should note that the Muslim Brotherhood had a significant presence in Jordan until it was outlawed, and Jordan has recently taken very aggressive steps against it. Undermining stability there is no small matter, and it is something that others may try to exploit,” Yagur told Channel 14.

He added that “Jordan represents Israel’s strategic depth to the east, and we need to understand that. Israel has little strategic depth overall, yet our longest land border lies there. That is why the exercises we are conducting, and the creation of the new division, are precisely the kind of focus we must dedicate to this arena.”

Yagur also touched on Israel’s massive bombing campaign against the Yemen-based Houthis on Sunday, which followed the terror group’s cluster bomb attack on Israel Friday evening.

He said the Houthis pose a unique challenge to Israel, as they appear undeterred by the degradation of their organization or the suffering of Yemeni civilians.

“This is not a rational enemy. This is not a state actor that, after suffering lasting damage to itself and its population, ultimately says, ‘OK, I surrender.’ I don’t see the Houthis ever raising a white flag,” Yagur told Channel 14.

“If we truly want to stop this phenomenon, we need to eliminate their top leadership.”