The 340th "Idan" Armoured Division ( he, עוצבת עידן) is an
Israel Defense Forces reserve
Reserve or reserves may refer to:
Places
* Reserve, Kansas, a US city
* Reserve, Louisiana, a census-designated place in St. John the Baptist Parish
* Reserve, Montana, a census-designated place in Sheridan County
* Reserve, New Mexico, a US vi ...
division
Division or divider may refer to:
Mathematics
*Division (mathematics), the inverse of multiplication
*Division algorithm, a method for computing the result of mathematical division
Military
*Division (military), a formation typically consisting ...
. It falls under the jurisdiction of the
Central Regional Command and is located in Camp Nachshonim. As of March 2016, it is commanded by
Brigadier-general Avi Gil.
History
Formerly the 880th Division, it was founded in 1974, after the
Yom Kippur War
The Yom Kippur War, also known as the Ramadan War, the October War, the 1973 Arab–Israeli War, or the Fourth Arab–Israeli War, was an armed conflict fought from October 6 to 25, 1973 between Israel and a coalition of Arab states led by E ...
, as a reserve division. In 1982, during the
First Lebanon War
The 1982 Lebanon War, dubbed Operation Peace for Galilee ( he, מבצע שלום הגליל, or מבצע של"ג ''Mivtsa Shlom HaGalil'' or ''Mivtsa Sheleg'') by the Israeli government, later known in Israel as the Lebanon War or the First L ...
, the division, which included three armored brigades, remained in command reserve, and entered the eastern front during the
Battle of Sultan Yacoub. In 2002, during
Operation Defensive Shield, it was responsible for the military occupation of
Jenin. In 2005 the unit was responsible for evacuating the northern
Gaza Strip
The Gaza Strip (;The New Oxford Dictionary of English (1998) – p.761 "Gaza Strip /'gɑːzə/ a strip of territory under the control of the Palestinian National Authority and Hamas, on the SE Mediterranean coast including the town of Gaza.. ...
during the
disengagement plan. Between 2005 and 2010, its commander was also the IDF's Chief Armor Officer (head of the
Armored Corps), but in April 2010 these roles were separated. Also, in 2010, the division was awarded first place in the
Ramatkal prize for distinguished reserve units.
Sixteen Distinguished Units Win Ramatkal Prize" (Hebrew)
''IDF spokesperson
The IDF Spokesperson's Unit ( he, דובר צה"ל, ''Dover Tsahal'', abbr. Dotz) is the unit in the IDF Operations Directorate, responsible for information policy and media relations. The unit is led by the IDF Spokesperson, a brigadier general an ...
,'' 22 March, 2010.
In 2014, the division underwent reorganization aimed at turning it from an armored division into a light, multi-front division that specializes in counter-terrorism
Counterterrorism (also spelled counter-terrorism), also known as anti-terrorism, incorporates the practices, military tactics, techniques, and strategies that governments, law enforcement, business, and intelligence agencies use to combat or ...
and urban warfare
Urban warfare is combat conducted in urban areas such as towns and cities. Urban combat differs from combat in the open at both the operational and the tactical levels. Complicating factors in urban warfare include the presence of civilians a ...
.
Units
* 340th "Idan" Division
** 5th "Sharon" (Reserve) Infantry Brigade
** 16th "Jerusalem" (Reserve) Infantry Brigade
** 847th "Chariots of Steel" (Reserve) Armor Brigade
** 900th "Kfir"/"Young Lions" Infantry Brigade
** 807th Division Signal Battalion
References
{{Israel Defense Forces
Military units and formations established in 2005
Central Command (Israel)
Infantry of Israel
2005 establishments in Israel
Divisions of Israel