IDF Fortifies Jordan Border Independently Amid "Hourglass" Delays
The IDF is independently fortifying Israel's southern border with Jordan, deploying razor wire and physical obstacles amid delays in the government's multi-billion shekel "Hourglass" defense project.
The Israel Defense Forces (IDF) are independently fortifying the southern section of the border with Jordan, spanning from Eilat to the Dead Sea, bypassing delays in the government's "Hourglass" defense project. Faced with slow budgetary progress for the planned 425-kilometer barrier, the military has instructed soldiers from the Bardelas Battalion to deploy razor wire and install physical obstacles to mitigate infiltration risks.
Border Vulnerabilities and Smuggling Threats
While the 1994 peace treaty established diplomatic relations with Jordan, security challenges along the eastern frontier persist. Beyond infiltration fears, the defense establishment contends with extensive smuggling networks trafficking weapons and drugs using drones and helium balloons. Recent security operations successfully thwarted major smuggling attempts, including the interception of a drone carrying 36 handguns in March 2026, 196 kilograms of hashish at the Rabin Crossing in July 2025, and two separate firearm shipments in February 2025.
The Stalled "Hourglass" Initiative
The Ministry of Defense initiative, dubbed "Hourglass," was approved by the government to construct a multi-layered barrier along the entire 425-kilometer Jordanian border at an estimated cost of 5.2 billion shekels. However, funding and construction have stalled, advancing only along an 80-kilometer northern stretch. In response to government inaction, local communities in the southern Arava have independently raised funds to establish monitoring centers along Route 90, highlighting that strategic border defense should not rely on improvised solutions or local municipal funding.
