One of the reasons I listen closely to Gen. James Mattis is that he is an avid student of history, and uses lessons from past wars to guide the work he and other folks down at Joint Forces Command are doing to re-craft operational concepts.
Mattis says future wars will be of the hybrid variety, characterized by a mixture of conventional and unconventional operations blending both high-tech attacks, such as cyber, and low tech, such as IEDs, all on the same battlefield.
Because of a hybrid enemys adaptability and fluid nature there is no single template for the threat, such as there was in Cold War days when one could template a Soviet Motorized Rifle Battalion down to the individual vehicle. But there is a textbook example of a hybrid war, Mattis says: Israels fight in south Lebanon against Hezbollah in 2006. Frank Hoffman, who writes extensively on hybrid threats, said the Lebanon war is the Grozny for the 21st century; a contemporary war that will be picked apart and analyzed for potential lessons.
In our continuing exploration of hybrid threats and their implications for doctrine and organization, we drill down a bit deeper into some of the lessons Israel took from that conflict. Long revered as one of the most formidable militaries in the world, military professionals took notice when the IDF was roughly handled by Hezbollah. The Israeli military itself launched some 50 internal probes to determine what went wrong.
IDF Brig. Gen. Itai Brun, former leader of the IDFs Intelligences Research Division, was tasked with re-writing IDF doctrine and operational methods to avoid a repeat of the militarys dismal performance. I was passed along a briefing given last year by Brun summarizing lessons learned. He called the war a wake-up call, and his analysis of the Hezbollah hybrid archetype is interesting.
Brun defined Hezbollah as a terrorist organization with the structure and capabilities of a state-like regular army and with a guerrilla mode of operation. Hezbollahs strategic concept was victory through non-defeat; which meant Israels tactical victories were of little to no importance. Hezbollah began the war with some 10,000 fighters equipped with vast quantities of anti-tank guided missiles, anti-aircraft missiles, a large arsenal of rockets, some 1,000 long range (up to 250 km) and 13,000 shorter range, an air unit equipped with aerial drones and a naval unit with anti-ship missiles. Hezbollahs operational concept was the continuous launching of rockets into Israels cities even in the face of a significant IDF ground maneuver.
Hezbollah pursued what Brun called a strategy of disappearance: command posts and arms stored in civilian buildings; launching rockets from civilian surroundings and sensitive sites such as mosques and schools; use of low signature weapons including rockets, mortars and anti-tank missiles; and Hezbollah employed extensive camouflage and field fortifications such as tunnels and bunkers. As military analyst and former general Bob Scales told me, Hezbollahs ability to fire rockets, move fighters and resupply when the Israeli Air Force had complete air dominance, was one of the big surprises of the war.
Read the rest of this story over at DoD Buzz…
{ 48 comments… read them below or add one }
let face it Israel is in a partisan war withhin ocupated areas. Israel’s army wanted to show the “clean operation” and dumped itself into the hole with blood-shit and civilian killings. and what we get it now? the same bullshit about “clean war” and we lost because our whitewashed cleaners were not ready to touch angry and hungry people living in the hole full with shit done by Israel himself. all the same shit, all same talks and all same “solutions”. whats next? IDF inventing robots going to kick palestinians and arabs when they are trying to smugle some food and guns? Ok.. i wish all luck but i quest myself; who will pay for this with their money and high-tech transfers again?
flying fart proudly joyned, consider getting a refund from your ESL school.
Here come the Arab and Israeli crazies…look for cover.
: flying fart proudly joyned
What?…that made no sence at all.
Drake,
Does it ever bother you that its impossible to mention israel or palestine without someone verbaly puking on the site?…or hell anywhere.
That was the arab version of ebonics.
Israeli Lesson on Hybrid War #1: Wear poofy hats.
poofy hats are a must…however there needs to be a feather in them to truly be successful
The beauty about Israel is that they are extremely critic about themselves, always trying to see it’s own flaws and try to improve on them.
Israeli forces perfommed incredibly good in their last incursions in Gaza Strip, showing that they learned from the Southen Lebanon mistakes.
Hezbollah
One big problem the IDF has and will probably always have is that a big majority of it’s forces are conscripts. When the fighting gets tough those are usually the ones that perform the worst since most of them don’t even want to be there in the first place. Reports of IDF ground forces refusing orders and troops using their cell phones to call their mothers or girlfriends when in combat are just a few of the problems you have with conscripts. Maybe one day they will realize an all professional force is the way to go. Although I doubt they’d get enough volunteers for that.
Where were the anti-aircraft missiles that the author says the Lebanese resistance supposedly had? Sadly, not even one Israeli aircraft was shot down. The good news was that Lebanese anti-tank missiles were put to good use and many Israeli tanks were destroyed, but the Israeli airforce was able to continue to bomb civilians and civilian infrastructure at will.
The author states that the Lebanese were “launching rockets from civilian surroundings and sensitive sites.” I don’t know if that is true or not but let’s not forget that Israel used illegal Jewish settlements to stage attacks on Lebanon. If I remember correctly the Lebanese resistance were able to launch a successful preemptive strike on one of those illegal Jewish settlements during the war and a number of Israeli troops were killed.
Jack,
Calling them conscripts is probbly not the best word its not like they go abduct the poor off the streets or some crap. Military service is manditory. There more like a national guard.
And that conscription is neccesary they just dont have enough ppl there and to many enemies to fight to allow to have a small proffessional force to fight all alone.
One thing ppl dont get is that israels troubles arent well we might get invaded for a time or some one might push us off out territory but of genocide. That will be the aim of there enemies theyve said so. So they cant relent or stop manditory service.
As for some guys crying about being made to go into combat. Theres always someone willing to start crying about unfairness in any country.
The author states that the Lebanese were “launching rockets from civilian surroundings and sensitive sites.” I don’t know if that is true or not but let’s not forget that Israel used illegal Jewish settlements to stage attacks on Lebanon. If I remember correctly the Lebanese resistance were able to launch a successful preemptive strike on one of those illegal Jewish settlements during the war and a number of Israeli troops were killed.
Posted by: Sam at June 9, 2009 09:51 PM
Yes Hamas and hezbollah reutenly use holy sites, schools, hospitals you name it as launch sites or command post as well as transport troops and supplies in ambulances and other emergency vehicles.
As for the “illegal” settlments i doubt were talking about huge fortress cities full of soldiers. And the israelies have removed some of these settlments before.
One thing in the not man shot down aircraft is the lebanese accualy had alot of stinger missiles…….they were useless because they always identefied apache and f16′s and such as friendly and refused to work so thats one.
just a few thoughts..
though i have to say Sam…realy you couldnt try to be atleast alittle objective..
“Where were the anti-aircraft missiles that the author says the Lebanese resistance supposedly had? Sadly, not even one Israeli aircraft was shot down. The good news was that Lebanese anti-tank missiles were put to good use and many Israeli tanks were destroyed, but the Israeli airforce was able to continue to bomb civilians and civilian infrastructure at will. ”
“The good news was that Lebanese anti-tank missiles were put to good use”
really?
Posted by: Valcan at June 9, 2009 10:59 PM:
“Calling them conscripts is probbly not the best word its not like they go abduct the poor off the streets or some crap. Military service is manditory. There more like a national guard.”
Conscription IS mandatory military service, so “conscription” is indeed the correct term.
When you talk about “abduct the poor off the streets or some crap” I’ll hazard a guess that you’re talking about press-ganging, a time-honoured method of recruiting crews for warships, practiced by e.g. the Royal Navy for many years. In fact, the Royal Marines were originally soldiers kept on board warships in order to prevent mutiny among the (predominantly) press-ganged crew.
Regards & all,
Thomas L. Nielsen
Denmark
“Those who do not learn from History, are doomed to repeat it.
Those who do learn from History are doomed to make new mistakes.
Those who learn only select lessons from History…..why, they are merely doomed”
National Guard / Home Guard = Voluntary
Conscription = Mandatory
Posted by: Valcan at June 9, 2009 10:59 PM:
“Calling them conscripts is probbly not the best word its not like they go abduct the poor off the streets or some crap. Military service is manditory. There more like a national guard.”
Conscription IS mandatory military service, so “conscription” is indeed the correct term.
When you talk about “abduct the poor off the streets or some crap” I’ll hazard a guess that you’re talking about press-ganging, a time-honoured method of recruiting crews for warships, practiced by e.g. the Royal Navy for many years. In fact, the Royal Marines were originally soldiers kept on board warships in order to prevent mutiny among the (predominantly) press-ganged crew.
Regards & all,
Thomas L. Nielsen
Denmark
“Those who do not learn from History, are doomed to repeat it.
Those who do learn from History are doomed to make new mistakes.
Those who learn only select lessons from History…..why, they are merely doomed”
Thomas L. Nielsen at June 10, 2009 01:15 AM
Yes but what i ment was it wasnt like it was for life of some type of horrible punishment where they all got sent to the infantry. I knew a guy who lives in israel he got to choose to go in a paramedic.
And i think its only for 2 yrs.
Why do Israel soldiers wear camoflage Chef hats?
Why do Israel soldiers wear camoflage Chef hats?
Posted by: joe fields at June 10, 2009 06:57 AM
- it is a better camouflage in a rocky environment than a bare (round) helmet or the usual twigs/leaves.
The extra large size makes it adaptable to almost any shape the user wants it to have
Sort of curious about the ability of Stinger missiles to identify good guy vs bad guy. I know that they have an IFF Mode 4 transponder system available for them, but thought that the Stinger would pretty much fire at anything that presented an IR signal.
Sort of curious about the ability of Stinger missiles to identify good guy vs bad guy. I know that they have an IFF Mode 4 transponder system available for them, but thought that the Stinger would pretty much fire at anything that presented an IR signal.
Is it just me or does the floppy helmet covers that the israelies have on in the picture make it look like some one has taken a platoon of french chefs to war?
I still wonder about the helmet covers the Israelis use and how effective they are. I would think it degrade your peripheral vision and possibly even get in the way if you have to go under obstacles.
The single lesson learned against Hezbollah was they tried to fight the majority of the way using Air power as the main attack point. The Israelis have a a good airforce but they did exactly what the Germans did at Dunkirk, which was let the luftwaffe take out the enemy and hold back the ground forces.
The ground forces also moved way too slowly and that causes the perfect target for the ATs Hezbollah used. An Acherzit or a Merkava is a formidable foe…when it is not sitting on a road out in the open.
Did Hezbollah use civilian sites? Yes they did and there is a reason why. They are not the Lebanese Army, so any site they use is most likely going to be civilian. Its a tactic to defeat the firepower the IDF could bring to bare and you know what? Unless someone changes the ROE or the laws of War, groups that may even be state sanctioned will use it because Western-styled forces will continue to allow it.
Supplying Hezbollah was not that much of an issue since airpower can only effect so much of the infrastructure and it took the Israelis a few days to even hit the bridges and road networks coming from Syria and through the bekaa valley in Lebanon.
This is why when Israel went into Gaza last year they moved much faster. They learned from their mistakes.
That might be a pic of Hezbollah fighters. The Israeli helmets I’m looking at look nothing like what is in the pic.
i curious but what did this war cost for US-taxpayers?
Last night, shortly after U.S. Secretary of State Hillary Clinton told journalists that the Obama administration “wants to see a stop to settlements — not some settlements, not outposts, not natural growth exceptions,” Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu called a confidante. Referring to Clinton’s call for a settlement freeze, Netanyahu groused, “What the hell do they want from me?” according to his associate, who added, “I gathered that he heard some bad vibes in his meetings with [U.S.] congressional delegations this week.”
According to many observers in Washington and Israel, the Israeli prime minister, looking for loopholes and hidden agreements that have often existed in the past with Washington, has been flummoxed by an unusually united line that has come not just from Obama White House and the secretary of state, but also from pro-Israel congressmen and women who have come through Israel for meetings with him over Memorial Day recess. To Netanyahu’s dismay, Obama doesn’t appear to have a hidden policy. It is what he said it was.
http://www.care2.com/news/member/434996229/1154760
Ambassador Indyk Tells All: Pretty Amazing Interview
http://www.israelpolicyforum.org/blog/ambassador-indyk-tells-all-pretty-amazing-interview
Good Morning Folks,
Like any issue that has Israel connected in any way the full mooners on both side can’t help themselves. But as I read Mr. Grants story it’s about something much more serious.
In Hezbollah I think we are seeing an evolution in the structure of terrorists groups both politically and in military organization. With Hezbollah you have a non state organization that has been able to form a symbiotic relationship with legally recognized states, in Hezabollah’s case Syria and Iran.
This gives Hezabollah a physical sanctuary and operational base to recruit, form, and train combat units, material staging areas, easy entry into the worlds arms markets. access to credit markets, and a political cover when not in the field. This a a couple of evolutionary levels from al Qaeda as a not really welcomed guest in first Afghanistan and now Pakistan.
Our people who are responsible for dealing with terrorism should be taking a microscopic look at how Hezabollah got into this position and try and block other terrorists groups/organizations from following in their footsteps.
How to combat a Hezabollah organized group, well that a topic for another day. The Hybrid War? Me thinks that labeling and pop sloganism has taken the place of any real thinking under adult supervision on this all to important subject to be battered about.
ALLONS,
Byron Skinner
@Byron Skinner
hisbola just learnes from zionist organisations, wich were terorists at the begin themselfes..
and it was Israel wich started “symbiotic relationship” with Hisbollah for forming the oposition to Arafats followers.
“Did Hezbollah use civilian sites? Yes they did and there is a reason why.”
-Because they are a terrorist organization that hides behind civilians and PURPOSELY puts them in the line of fire.
“In Hezbollah I think we are seeing an evolution in the structure of terrorists groups both politically and in military organization. With Hezbollah you have a non state organization that has been able to form a symbiotic relationship with legally recognized states, in Hezabollah’s case Syria and Iran.”
-This is totally backward. Hezbollah was created by Iran, trained by Iran, and supplied by Iran. It is a proxy extension of a state that desires to attack another state but is unwilling to leave any fingerprints or face a direct response.
Iran didn’t create Hezbollah, so Byron Skinner is correct.
Any topic that discusses war between israel and any other country now reminds me of global warming science.
Very few facts a whole lot of political BS.
“Iran didn’t create Hezbollah, so Byron Skinner is correct.”
-Yeah, and Syria isn’t an Iranian lackey, either.
History of Hezbollah
http://www.military.com/Resources/ResourceFileView?file=Hezbollah-History.htm
“In response Shi’ite Muslims with the assistance of Iranian Revolutionary Guards formed Hezbollah to combat the Israeli presence, and ultimately to assist the Palestinians in their fight for statehood.”
Let me translate that for you. Hezbollah is a proxy extension of Iran: created, nurtured, and unleashed at the will of the mullahs in Tehran.
Council on Foreign Relations
Backgrounder:
Hezbollah (a.k.a. Hizbollah, Hizbu’llah)
http://www.cfr.org/publication/9155/#2
“What is Hezbollah?
Hezbollah is a Shiite Muslim political group with a militant wing the United States defines as a terrorist organization. The group, which is active in Lebanon, is a major provider of social services, operating schools, hospitals, and agricultural services for thousands of Lebanese Shiites. Hezbollah’s political standing was bolstered after a wave of violence in May 2008 prompted Lebanon’s lawmakers to compromise with the militant group. In August 2008, the country’s parliament approved a national unity cabinet, giving Hezbollah and its allies veto power with eleven of thirty cabinet seats. Early results from June 2009 parliamentary elections showed Hezbollah losing to Lebanon’s ruling, pro-Western “March 14″ coalition. Hezbollah also operates the al-Manar satellite television channel and broadcast station.
What are Hezbollah’s origins?
Hezbollah was founded in 1982 in response to the Israeli invasion of Lebanon, and subsumed members of the 1980s coalition of groups known as Islamic Jihad. It has close links to Iran and Syria.”
Hezbollah even if it wasnt started by iran is nothing but Irans tool as are most palestinian terrorist groups.
Judging from the recent operation in the Gaza Strip, the IDF did not learn from the Lebanon experience. And I suspect they’ll repeat it with more needless bloodeshed all round. But what did Hezbollah learn?
As far as I can tell, this ‘hybrid war’ stuff is just more jargon: are they really so different from any other guerilla force from the 20th century? Vietnam was more of a hybrid war than this, and they never felt the need to invent new words for it.
IDF doesn’t have an interest in US type COIN operations.
“Council on Foreign Relations”
-Why don’t you quote the Tri-Lateral Commission, the U.N. or the Bilderbergers next? Their opinions carry as much validity as that anti-US sovereignty, pro-world government whore called the CFR.
Good Morning Folks,
Sine we long ago move from the intent of the post (Hybrid War) I guess anything is now fair game.
In todays WSJ, FOX NEWS for those who can afford $2.00 a day and read their appears in todays signed editorial an article; “What if Israel Strikes Iran?” by John R. Bolton acting as a mouth piece for the ultra Israeli supporter/lobbyist The American Enterprise Institute. After listing all the options Iran MIFGT do, 1. Close Strait of Hormuz, 2. Iran cut off it’s own oil to the west, 3. Iran attacks U.S. forces in Iraq and Afghanistan and finally the biggie 4. Iran increases support for global terrorism, 5. Iran launches missile attack on Israel and 6. Iran unleashes Hamas and Hezbollah against Israel. The idea that all these options seem not to be considered options by Iran seems not to bother Mr. Bolton
The conclusion that Bolton comes to is; “This brief survey demonstrates why Israel’s military option against Iran’s nuclear program is so unattractive, but also why failing to act is worse.”
To those out their who are still clueless, this is the same think tank that discredited the UN’s finding of NO WMD’s and strongly encouraged the Bush (43) administration to invade Iraq, as it Bush needed any encouragement. I would assume they are still looking for Saddam’s WMD’s in Iraq.
Supporting any military action against Iran especially on the flimsy evidence and the cooked up four reason Bolton presents is shear irresponsible saber rattling. The notion that Iran has enough control over Hezbollah to encourage it to take offensive terrorists action against Israel is simply not supported by fact.
It’s time that President Obama removes the outsourcing of of U.S. foreign policy from the likes of the Israeli backed American Enterprise Institute, Heritage Foundation, Cato Institute, et al, get a Sec. of State with backbone that the world respects and make foreign policy what Jefferson, Madison and the founding fathers envisioned.
With the election of Prime Minister Netanyahu in March, a hard liner the prospects os any solution to the problem in the middle east is very unlikely. Like the late Mr. Arafat before him Mr. Netanyahu would have no political future if peace suddenly broke put between the over 10.5 million Palestinians and Israel.
It’s time for the U.S. Government to reclaim the functions of the State Department, and sh** can the think tanks both conservative and liberal and deal directly with Israel and the Palestinians. Any future for Israel at all is at steak.
ALLONS,
Byron Skinner
@Valcan at June 10
i did extra for you not a political bullshit.
Attention! Here it begins:
————————————————
I’m So Lonely
I’m so lonely
So lonely
So lonely and sadly alone
There’s no one
Just me only
Sitting on my little jewish throne
I work very hard and make up great plans
But nobody listens, no one understands
Seems that no one takes me seriously
And so I’m lonely
A little lonely
Poor little jewish me
There’s nobody
I can realy relate to
Feer like a bird in a golden cage
It’s kinda silly
But not really
Because it’s filling my body with holly rage
I work really hard and I’m physically fit
But nobody here seems to realize that
When I rule the world maybe they’ll notice me
But until then I’rr just be ronely
Little lonely, poor little jewiah me
I’m so lonely,
yeahh… I’m so lonely
Why is it whenever i hear about people acting as spys for other countries they seem to somehow be connected to the state department
Posted by: the only and pure holly jew at June 11, 2009 03:03 PM
ROFLAMO i sence ecohes of the drear leader!!!
I have a question wtf is ol’ kimmy po?..look at him im convinced he a troll or something i mean seriously……..look at him..he looks nothing like a north korean.
“Center for a New American Security”
Oh, there’s a hoot. A think-tank made up of CFR flunkies, Clintonites and Obots. After the Oslo Accords, who couldn’t guess their position on Israel, Iran and its proxies?
anyway the hardcore left wing college hippie types have always been against israel without realizing they have kept the terrs out of our backyards for a long time. anyway sweet tavor wish i had one.
anyway the hardcore left wing college hippie types have always been against israel without realizing they have kept the terrs out of our backyards for a long time.—
gosh, you are so funny! what a shit are you smoking again?
Supporters of the main election challenger to Mahmoud Ahmadinejad clashed with police and set up barricades of burning tires Saturday as authorities claimed the hard-line president was re-elected in a landslide. The rival candidate said the vote was tainted by widespread fraud and his followers responded with the most serious unrest in the capital in a decade.
http://www.google.com/hostednews/ap/article/ALeqM5jGSJEAPs_r2T2wxsL5G3t4z-jajQD98PUBRO0
sooo. now, when Iran is busy with itself wich country will Israel shose at next? Saudi Arabia? Egypt? Syria? Lybia? Jordania? Sudan? EU? USA?
sooo. now, when Iran is busy with itself wich country will Israel shose at next? Saudi Arabia? Egypt? Syria? Lybia? Jordania? Sudan? EU? USA?
Posted by: flying fart proudly joyned at June 13, 2009 01:16 PM
Ok you’ve officaly lapsed into insanity
Ok you’ve officaly lapsed into insanity.–
yeahh sure.. i am just slaping your drughead back to the reality.