Overview of Israeli Tactics:
The Israeli Defense Forces (IDF) are employing what a West Point expert describes as unprecedented measures to minimize civilian casualties during military operations in urban warfare, more than any other army in history.
Why it matters:
The tactical decisions being made by Israel reflect a balance between military necessity and moral responsibility. With civilian lives at risk in dense urban combat zones, the chosen strategies emphasize safeguarding non-combatants, potentially at the cost of the IDF’s tactical advantage.
What’s being said:
John Spencer, a renowned authority on urban warfare studies, considers the IDF’s actions exceptional when shared via x (formerly Twitter), outlining the lengths to which the IDF goes to forewarn civilians of impending operations, even using tactics like “roof-knocking”. These unconventional warning strategies aim to clear combat zones of non-combatants.
The context:
The combat environment the IDF faces is extraordinarily challenging, with thousands of entrenched hostile elements, human shields, subterranean networks under civilian areas, and continual rocket barrages aimed at Israeli civilian locales. This level of opponent integration into civil districts dramatically complicates engagement options for any military force.
Key points from the critique response:
The detailed discourse confronts critiques concerning the type and scale of munitions Israel uses. Tactics involving precision-guided missiles and other smart technologies are defended not only on their disturbance minimization capacities but also with regard to tunnel networks requiring significant penetrating capabilities.
Takeaway:
The IDF, under intense scrutiny and courts of public opinion, undergoes constant assessment over actions taken to reduce any harm to innocents amidst a complicated and ongoing conflict situation. Spencer concludes by re-emphasizing the protective measures Israel undertakes, and frames the criticisms within the context of the realities of war facing Israel.
About John Spencer:
With military experience from his service as a US Army officer and expertise from his current role at West Point, John Spencer brings informed insight into areas of conduct, engagement rules, and military ethics related to urban conflicts involving the IDF.
This story was first published on jpost.com.