Urban combat has become the most difficult military challenge of our time.
The fact: In open terrain, no military force in the Middle East currently poses a serious threat to Israel’s superiority. But urban combat is a completely different story.
HISTORICAL BACKGROUND
Even in ancient times, conquering fortified cities surrounded by walls was a slow and difficult task, sometimes taking months or years (see the conquest of Jerusalem). These battles often came at the cost of heavy casualties. Victorious armies would sometimes destroy cities completely and enslave the surviving population.
WHAT MADE URBAN CONQUESTS EASIER IN MODERN TIMES? TECHNOLOGY.
Once cannons entered the battlefield, massive walls could be breached easily. Artillery shells bypassed the walls and rained destruction inside. As a result, most warfare shifted to open terrain.
SO WHY IS FIGHTING BACK IN URBAN AREAS TODAY? AGAIN—TECHNOLOGY.
Urban warfare challenges resurfaced during World War II, particularly in the brutal battles of Leningrad and Stalingrad, where Germany suffered massive losses and failed to capture the cities. The same problem exists today.
Why? Because defenders now have advanced tools to inflict major damage on attackers. These include:
Long-range sniper rifles, roadside IEDs, hidden building explosives, tunnels connecting homes and neighborhoods, hidden shafts from which troops are ambushed, anti-tank rocket launchers, and more.
Plus, defenders use civilian buildings for cover and protection, making it harder for attackers to respond without collateral damage.
THE SOLUTION?
Develop a specialized doctrine and armaments for urban warfare. Some key tools and strategies include:
Total destruction of any building posing a threat—leave no standing skeletons, as shafts may remain usable. The most effective tools: bulldozers or heavy air bombs that penetrate deep before exploding.
Tight intelligence control and rapid elimination of any hostile element moving between buildings.
Advanced tunnel detection technologies.
Autonomous systems to scan for tunnels and search buildings.
Widespread use of wall-penetrating tank and artillery shells.