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252nd "Sinai" Division
עוצבת סיני
252nd Division insignia, depicting a fox similar to that of the Southern Commands logo
Founded	1968–present
Country	Israel
Branch	Israeli Ground Forces
Size	Division
Part of	Southern Command
Engagements	War of Attrition Yom Kippur War 1982 Lebanon War 2023 Israel–Hamas war Battle of Beit Hanoun
Commanders
Current commander	Tat Aluf Moran Omer

The 252nd "Sinai" Division (Hebrew: עוצבת סיני) is an Israel Defense Forces reserve division under the Southern Command. Formed in 1968, it was the first permanent division in the IDF. As of November 2023, it is commanded by Brigadier General Moran Omer.

History

The unit was created in 1968 in an effort to unify Israeli armoured forces in the Sinai, taking an active part in the War of Attrition. It later took an active part in the Yom Kippur War. During the First Lebanon War, it operated on the eastern wing of the Israeli forces pushing into Lebanon. In the 21st century, the division has been charged with securing the border with Egypt.

The unit played an active role in the 2023 Israel–Hamas war. The Israel Defense Forces said that "the 252nd Division has killed hundreds of Hamas operatives, including senior members, in Beit Hanoun and Jabaliya."

The unit has been accused of arbitrary killings of civilians by Haaretz. The current commander Yehuda Vach has been accused of claiming that "there are no innocents in Gaza" in the same article.

Division organization 2024

•   252nd Division "Sinai" (Reserve)
  • 10th Armored Brigade "Harel" (Reserve)
    • 360th Armored Battalion
    • 383rd Armored Battalion
    • 429th Armored Battalion
    • 924th Combat Engineering Battalion
    • 5358th Reconnaissance Company
    • Logistic Battalion
    • Signal Company
  • 12th Infantry Brigade "Negev" (Reserve)
    • 8114th Infantry Battalion
    • 9208th Infantry Battalion
    • 9217th Infantry Battalion
    • (6863rd) Reconnaissance Battalion
    • Logistic Battalion
    • Signal Company
  • 14th Armored Brigade "Machatz" (Reserve)
    • 79th Armored Battalion
    • 87th Armored Battalion
    • 184th Armored Battalion
    • 271st Combat Engineering Battalion
    • 5440th Reconnaissance Company
    • Logistic Battalion
    • Signal Company
  • 16th Infantry Brigade "Jerusalem" (Reserve)
    • 7007th Infantry Battalion
    • 8119th Infantry Battalion
    • 9207th Infantry Battalion
    • (6310th) Reconnaissance Battalion
    • Logistic Battalion
    • Signal Company
  • 454th Artillery Brigade "Tabor/Fire Flame" (Reserve)
    • 439th Artillery Battalion (M270 "Menatetz" MLRS)
    • 670th Artillery Battalion (M109 "Doher" self-propelled howitzers)
    • 7394th Artillery Battalion (M109 "Doher" self-propelled howitzers)
    • 9305th Artillery Battalion (M109 "Doher" self-propelled howitzers)
    • Target Acquisition Battalion
    • Signal Company
  • Division Logistic Brigade
  • Division Signal Battalion

References

1. Fabian, Emanuel. "IDF says its entire 252nd Reserve Division is operating inside Gaza". The Times of Israel. Retrieved 14 November 2023.
2. "Testimony of Baruch Harel, Deputy Commander of the Division Before the Agranat Commission," The Israel Defense Forces and Defense Establishment Archives (IDFA), 1974.
3. The Sinai Division during the Lebanon War" (Hebrew), Ma'arachot, 413, pp.32-39 (July 2007).
4. Kubovich, Yaniv (2024-12-18). "'No Civilians. Everyone's a Terrorist': IDF Soldiers Expose Arbitrary Killings and Rampant Lawlessness in Gaza's Netzarim Corridor". Haaretz.com. Retrieved 2024-12-20.

• Southern Command (Israel)
• Divisions of Israel
• Military units and formations established in 1968