Israel’s Defense Ministry announced Monday night the establishment of the Eastern Region Directorate, a new body tasked with strengthening Israel’s security along its eastern border. The plan includes the establishment of around 40 new communities.

“The Eastern Region Directorate was established to promote an inter-ministerial framework that will bring all of the state’s capabilities to the longest border area of the State of Israel,” said Defense Ministry Director General Maj. Gen. (Res.) Amir Baram. “Iran and its proxies’ plan to destroy Israel has indeed weakened throughout the war, but looking ahead, the raid from the east is a developing threat that must be prepared for.”

Brig. Gen. (Res.) Mordechai Benita, head of the new directorate, outlined a plan to establish roughly 40 new communities with armed civilians spanning the length of Israel’s eastern border, from the Tzemach Junction near the Sea of Galilee in the north to the Eilat region in the south.