Israel to Build Six New Military Training Bases

Israel’s military has initiated a large-scale construction effort to establish six new training bases for ground forces, following lessons drawn from Hamas’s October 7, 2023, attack on Israel.

A senior official from the Engineering and Construction Division of Israel’s Ministry of Defense confirmed on Sunday that the initiative encompasses the development of six new brigade-level training facilities across the country.

Brigade-Specific Training Infrastructure

According to the Israeli news site Walla, three of the six bases will serve armored brigades: the 7th Brigade, the 188th Brigade, and the 401st Brigade. These sites will host both basic and advanced professional training. The remaining three bases are designated for infantry brigades—the Kfir Brigade, the Nahal Brigade, and the Givati Brigade.

Operational Significance of the Project

Walla reported that Israel’s Ministry of Defense views the project as operationally critical due to its direct impact on the training of all active ground combat units in the Israel Defense Forces, preparing them for future challenges and emergency scenarios.

The site added that the entire training framework—including training methods and environments—will undergo a fundamental transformation once the new combat training centers become operational, with effects extending down to the most basic needs of individual soldiers.

The defense official stated that rapid access for tanks and Tiger vehicles to training zones has been prioritized to streamline training operations.

Construction Timelines and Locations

The new training camp for the 7th Brigade in northern Israel—covering 20,000 square meters, including a bus parking area—is in an advanced stage of construction and is scheduled to receive its first cohort of recruits in August 2028.

The training facility for the 188th Brigade is also under construction and is slated for handover in August of next year. Meanwhile, the Kfir Brigade’s new training base in the Jordan Valley is likewise in an advanced construction phase, with new sections set to be delivered to the Israel Defense Forces in 2028.