Combined Arms Warfare in Israeli Military History : From the War of Independence to Operation Protective Edge

Combined arms warfare (CAW) – the integration of different arms on the battlefield (e.g., armor, infantry, artillery, aircraft, and engineers) in order to achieve maximal efficiency there–is as old as war itself. Every army across both time and space that has engaged in combat has practiced one version or another of CAW, whether consciously or otherwise. The Israel Defense Forces (IDF) has been no exception to the rule. This book traces the Israeli experience with CAW from the country’s War of Independence in 1947–49 (against a coalition of Arab states) through Operation Protective Edge in 2014 (against a coalition of Hamas-led terrorist/insurgent groups). It describes and analyzes the IDF’s practice of CAW in each interstate war (IW), asymmetrical war (AW), and low-intensity conflict (LIC) that Israel has fought since the country’s establishment in the mid-twentieth century. The book also highlights the Israeli approach to CAW in respect of special operations (SPEC OPS). With no end in sight to the Arab–Israeli conflict, and with further hostilities between Israel and its neighbors virtually assured in the future, Combined Arms Warfare in Israeli Military History constitutes an essential addition to the literature about Middle Eastern warfare. This book is aimed primarily at the academic and research community, but it is fully accessible to anyone with an interest in Israeli military history. Combined arms warfare (CAW) -- the integration of different arms on the battlefield (e.g., armor, infantry, artillery, aircraft, and engineers) in order to achieve maximal efficiency there -- is as old as war itself. Every army across both time and space that has engaged in combat has practiced one version or another of CAW, whether consciously or otherwise. The Israel Defenxse Forces (IDF) has been no exception to the rule. This book traces the Israeli experience with CAW from the countrys War of Independence in 194749 (against a coalition of Arab states) through Operation Protective Edge in 2014 (against a coalition of Hamas-led terrorist/insurgent groups). It describes and analyzes the IDFs practice of CAW in each interstate war (IW), asymmetrical war (AW), and low-intensity conflict (LIC) that Israel has fought since the countrys establishment in the mid-twentieth century. The book also highlights the Israeli approach to CAW in respect of special operations (SPEC OPS). With no end in sight to the ArabIsraeli conflict, and with further hostilities between Israel and its neighbors virtually assured in the future, Combined Arms Warfare in Israeli Military History constitutes an essential addition to the literature about Middle Eastern warfare. This book is aimed primarily at the academic and research community, but it is fully accessible to anyone with an interest in Israeli military history. List of Abbreviations List of Illustrations Preface Introduction 1. The War of Independence and the Sinai Campaign: Combined Arms Warfare in Its Infancy 2. The Six-Day War: Combined Arms Warfare Comes of Age 3. The War of Attrition: Combined Arms Warfare Takes a Back Seat 4. The Yom Kippur War: Combined Arms Warfare Takes a Licking but Keeps on Ticking 5. The Lebanon War: Combined Arms Warfare Reinvigorated 6. The Second Lebanon and Gaza Wars: Combined Arms Warfare and Asymmetrical War 7. Between Wars: Combined Arms Warfare and Low-intensity Conflict 8. "In Time of Peace, Conflict, or War": Combined Arms Warfare and Special Operations Conclusion Glossary of Technical Terms Notes Bibliography Index

Combined arms warfare (CAW)—the integration of different arms on the battlefield (e.g., armor, infantry, artillery, aircraft, and engineers—is as old as war itself. This book traces the Israeli experience with CAW from the country's War of Independence in 1947-49 through Operation Protective Edge in 2014. It describes and analyzes the IDF's practice of CAW in each conflict that Israel has fought since the country's establishment.