The IDF's currently defunct 500th Armored Brigade will be re-established by the middle of 2026 and fully operational by the end of 2027, The Jerusalem Post learned on Tuesday.
Notably, the defunct brigade was where IDF Chief of Staff Lt.-Gen. Eyal Zamir served during the Second Intifada approximately 25 years ago, before the brigade was disbanded in 2003.
The brigade is likely to be established as a reservist brigade under the command of Southern Command and the 162nd Division, Ynet reported.
The renewed brigade is set to receive Merkava IV tanks from the 401st Brigade, which will receive the newest version of Barak tanks in their place, according to Ynet's report.
The brigade's company commanders are set to be comprised of existing reservist operations officers, Ynet reported.
IDF defunct 500th Brigade to be re-established
The brigade is also slated to include regular infantry companies as support companies instead of mechanized infantry, the report noted.
Such support companies would include platoons of mortars, collection and observation teams, attack drones, evacuation teams, and a command post.
The previous 500th Brigade had the nickname "Kfir" before the establishment of the Kfir Infantry Brigade. Therefore, the newly established brigade would have a new nickname after it is reformed.