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.