The Israeli army announced today, Thursday 1 January, the deployment of forces from the “Hasmonean Brigade” in the security zone in southern Syria, marking the first time the brigade has been stationed in the area.
The Israeli army said the brigade’s infantry forces carried out field activities after a series of military drills in the area. These included “targeted searches” during which intelligence was collected, with the stated aim of “removing threats and ensuring the security of civilians in Israel, especially Golan residents.”
According to the Israeli army statement issued today, the Hasmonean Brigade operated under the command of the 52nd Armored Battalion of the 401st Brigade, and in coordination with the 474th Brigade. The army also confirmed that the 210th Division, known as “Bashan,” remains deployed in the area.
The statement added that the brigade will continue operating “across various arenas,” while emphasizing enabling Haredi soldiers to maintain their religious way of life.
This deployment comes as Israel’s military presence continues in parts of southern Syria, following the fall of ousted President Bashar al-Assad’s regime in December 2024. The Israeli army expanded the buffer zone and established nine new military points in the area.
The Israeli army had previously announced the completion of the 55th Brigade’s mission in Syria on 28 December 2024.
In a statement published on its official website, it said Reserve Brigade 55 ended its activities in Syria after more than 100 days of continuous field operations, declaring it had successfully concluded its mission in the area.
The statement said the brigade operated over the past three months under the 210th Division’s command. Its forces carried out defensive tasks in the occupied Golan Heights and within the security zone in southern Syria, and conducted dozens of military operations.
It added that in the coming days the 55th Brigade’s forces are expected to be replaced by another reserve brigade, which will continue operational activity in southern Syria and the Golan Heights.
About the Hasmonean Brigade
The Hasmonean Brigade is an infantry brigade in the Israeli army made up of soldiers from the Haredi, ultra-Orthodox Jewish community. It was officially announced in 2024 as part of Israeli efforts to increase Haredi integration into military service while allowing them to preserve their religious lifestyle.
It is described as the first brigade of its kind to be organized entirely to fit Haredi religious requirements, including strict gender separation, the nature of training, and daily service routines.
The brigade operates under regular field commands in the Israeli army and takes part in operational and security missions on multiple fronts. Israel says its tasks fall under what it calls “defensive activities” and the protection of border areas.
Who are the Haredim?
Haredim are considered the most religiously conservative current within Israeli society. Their way of life is based on strict adherence to Torah teachings and rejection of many aspects associated with Western modernity, including mixed-gender settings, certain technologies, and media, while living in relatively closed communities.
Since Israel’s establishment, the Haredi community has maintained a stance rejecting military service, rooted in a religious conviction that the army is a secular institution tied to a political project that conflicts with Jewish religious law and threatens the community’s religious identity and continuity.
Historically, this refusal was linked to the “status quo” understanding that granted exemptions from conscription in exchange for avoiding confrontation with the state. However, the escalation of wars and a shortage of soldiers have brought the issue back to the forefront.
For most Haredim, enlistment is not viewed as a national duty but as an existential threat that imposes a different lifestyle and can lead to social ostracism and loss of religious identity. This has made refusal to serve a deeply entrenched doctrinal position that goes beyond political or legal calculations.
The Israeli army faces a crisis in recruiting Haredi conscripts. Israeli radio station Kan Reshet Bet reported that response rates to draft orders in the first third of 2025 reached only 20%, then dropped in the second third to 5%. Up to April 2025, only 994 recruits reported for service out of 10,000 draft notices.
These figures prompted the Israeli army to issue thousands of arrest warrants, alongside activating “Order 12,” which imposes travel restrictions on those who refuse to enlist.
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