252nd Division (Israel)


The 252nd Division "Sinai" 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 August 2024, it is commanded by Brigadier General Yehuda Vach.

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 Gaza 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.
The IDF has repeatedly denied similar allegations in front of the International Court of Justice.

Division organization 2025

  •   252nd Division "Sinai"
  • * 10th [Armored Brigade |10th Armored Brigade "Harel"]
  • ** 360th Armored Battalion
  • ** 363rd Armored Battalion
  • ** 429th Armored Battalion
  • ** 924th Combat Engineering Battalion
  • ** 5358th Reconnaissance Company
  • ** 5010th Logistic Battalion
  • ** 5649th Signal Company
  • * 12th Infantry Brigade "Negev"
  • ** 8114th Infantry Battalion
  • ** 9208th Infantry Battalion
  • ** 9217th Infantry Battalion
  • ** Reconnaissance Battalion
  • ** 5512th Logistic Battalion
  • ** 523rd Signal Company
  • * 14th Armored Brigade "Machatz"
  • ** 79th Armored Battalion
  • ** 87th Armored Battalion
  • ** 184th Armored Battalion
  • ** 271st Combat Engineering Battalion
  • ** 5440th Reconnaissance Company
  • ** Logistic Battalion
  • ** 5133rd Signal Company
  • * 16th Infantry Brigade "Jerusalem"
  • ** 7007th Infantry Battalion
  • ** 8119th Infantry Battalion
  • ** 9207th Infantry Battalion
  • ** Reconnaissance Battalion
  • ** 5160th Logistic Battalion
  • ** Signal Company
  • * 454th Artillery Brigade "Tabor/Fire Flame"
  • ** 439th Artillery Battalion
  • ** 670th Artillery Battalion
  • ** 7394th Artillery Battalion
  • ** 9305th Artillery Battalion
  • ** Target Acquisition Battalion
  • ** Signal Company
  • * Division Logistic Group
  • * Division Signal Battalion