[News in War History] Why Israel Could Not Immediately Deploy Ground Forces... The Challenging 'Urban Warfare'

US Advises "Clearer Goals and Strategies Needed"
'Pyrrhic Victory' Protagonist Also Dies in Urban Warfare
Modern Cities Lined with Reinforced Concrete, 'Natural Fortresses'

It has been three weeks since the Palestinian armed group Hamas launched a surprise attack on southern Israel. Enraged by the massive civilian casualties in their country, the Israeli government immediately mobilized large-scale forces after Hamas's air raids on the 7th and vowed to annihilate Hamas. However, ground operations have not progressed easily.

While the United States and Western countries requested Israel to delay ground operations citing concerns over hostage exchanges and escalation, there are also worries within Israel that reckless ground operations could result in greater damage. Despite Israel's overwhelming superiority in manpower and firepower, urban warfare in the Gaza Strip?a densely populated metropolitan area with 2.4 million people?is expected to be extremely difficult.

Since ancient times, urban warfare has been classified as a very challenging battle, often called a "battle without heroes." This is because the attacking forces find it difficult to fully utilize mobility and firepower in urban areas filled with numerous buildings that provide easy concealment for defenders. The Israeli military is also expected to be hampered by the need to advance while destroying numerous traps and tunnels set up by Hamas and Gaza residents who have endured multiple air raids.

In this segment, we will explore the history of urban warfare, the most intense type of battle with no straightforward strategy, as well as the current status of the Israel-Hamas conflict.

◆News: Israeli Military "Limited Ground Raids Continue... Preparing for Large-Scale Ground Operations"

On the 26th (local time), the streets of Gaza City, the central city of the Gaza Strip, were empty following an airstrike by Israel. [Image source=EPA·Yonhap News]

Let's start with the news. According to the Times of Israel on the 26th (local time), Israeli military spokesperson Daniel Hagari stated at a press conference that "In the coming days, we will intensify limited ground raid operations in the Gaza Strip," adding, "Our goal is to dismantle Hamas's infrastructure and prepare for a full-scale ground operation."

Also present at the press conference, Israeli Defense Minister Yoav Gallant explained, "If conditions are right, the maneuver will begin. The operation is complex, so the conditions are also complicated," suggesting that the deployment of ground forces may be delayed. The Israeli military is expected to continue limited raids involving small units that enter to eliminate high-ranking Hamas officials and then withdraw after the operation.

Israel has already amassed over 300,000 troops near the Gaza border, but its cautious approach to full-scale ground deployment is reportedly not solely due to pressure from the U.S. and Western countries. The difficulty of urban warfare in Gaza is a significant factor.

According to The New York Times (NYT), U.S. Secretary of Defense Lloyd Austin also advised Israeli Defense Minister Yoav Gallant during a phone call to be more cautious about ground operations in Gaza. Austin emphasized, "The Gaza Strip is a densely populated area with numerous tunnels built by Hamas," and "Urban warfare is extremely difficult, and the Israeli military must carefully consider how to conduct ground operations in Gaza."

Military experts warn that although the Israeli military is planning to deploy large-scale ground forces, significant damage is expected without thorough preparation. Michael Knights, a military security expert at the Washington Institute for Near East Policy (WINEP), pointed out, "Hamas has devoted great effort over the past 15 years to building a deep defense line connecting ground and underground tunnels and fortresses," adding, "If ground combat breaks through buildings filled with mines, explosives, and booby traps, massive casualties are expected."

◆History 1: Urban Warfare Without Heroes... The Most Challenging Battle Since Ancient Times

Bust of Pyrrhus I, held by the National Archaeological Museum of Naples, Italy. [Image source: National Archaeological Museum of Naples]

Urban warfare has been considered the most difficult battle both in ancient times and today, and even brilliant commanders tried to avoid it whenever possible. The denser the buildings in a large urban area, the more limited the mobility of friendly forces becomes, while defending enemies can conceal themselves in various buildings and launch surprise attacks, making it extremely disadvantageous for attackers.

The story of Pyrrhus I, an ancient Greek general who is the subject of the proverb "Pyrrhic victory," meaning a victory with devastating cost, remains a historical example illustrating how difficult urban warfare is.

Pyrrhus I was a king of Macedonia in the 3rd century BCE, renowned for his excellent tactics and bravery in various battles. He was even regarded as the "reincarnation of Alexander the Great" during his time. However, in his final battle during the Argos civil war, he became entangled in urban warfare and met a truly absurd death.

In 272 BCE, Pyrrhus I led a large force centered around war elephants?powerful units comparable to modern tanks?into Argos to suppress the civil war. While he achieved significant victories in open-field battles outside the city walls, he faced great difficulties in urban combat inside the city.

The large elephants could not charge through the narrow alleys within the city walls. Most soldiers had to fight dispersed in urban warfare, but such dispersed formations were very vulnerable compared to the dense infantry formations with overlapping shields used at the time.

Meanwhile, Argos defenders and residents hidden throughout the buildings shot flaming arrows and threw stones, frightening the elephants, which ran wildly in all directions, trampling their own troops. This caused Pyrrhus I's army formation to collapse completely. To boost morale, Pyrrhus I reportedly threw away his helmet bearing the royal emblem and led the charge himself.

However, while Pyrrhus I was cutting down enemy soldiers at the forefront, roof tiles thrown by residents began to fly from above. One of these struck him in the neck, breaking his cervical vertebrae and killing him instantly. It was a tragically ironic death for a hero who had made a name for himself across Greece and in his Italian campaigns.

◆History 2: Modern Urban Warfare Became More Difficult with the Advent of Reinforced Concrete Buildings

The Soviet troops counterattacking the German army during the Battle of Stalingrad in 1943. [Image source=Getty Images]

Urban warfare, which even great commanders could not easily overcome, has become increasingly difficult in modern times. A major reason is the significant increase in building durability due to reinforced concrete technology, which emerged in the mid-19th century. No matter how much bombing is conducted, defenders can hide behind the debris of numerous buildings, attack the enemy, and set traps to harass the attackers.

Reinforced concrete technology originally started from an idea presented by Joseph Monier, a French gardener, who exhibited a "concrete flowerpot" that was difficult to break at the 1854 Paris World's Fair. Thanks to advances in concrete manufacturing and steel technology, reinforced concrete construction became the standard building method worldwide from the 1920s.

As a result, from World War II onward, bombing by aircraft and artillery left building debris scattered throughout cities. Until the 1910s, when wooden buildings were common, incendiary bombs could literally turn entire urban areas into ashes, but reinforced concrete buildings could not be completely destroyed by such fires or bombings.

The Battle of Stalingrad (1942?43), recorded as one of the harshest battles in human history between Nazi Germany and the Soviet Union, remains a historical example demonstrating the difficulty of modern urban warfare. Soviet forces deployed troops concealed in every piece of building debris and continuously launched surprise attacks, inflicting sustained damage on the German army.

Soviet units used massive grain warehouses and apartment buildings as fortresses, forcing German troops into close combat. German artillery on the outskirts found it difficult to bombard indiscriminately as close combat between enemy and friendly forces increased. The Germans even called this intense urban warfare the "Rattenkrieg" (Rat War) due to its difficulty.

The Soviets dug traps on the first floors of buildings and fired from the second floors where staircases had been destroyed, gradually exhausting the German forces as they searched each building to root out Soviet troops.

After buying time to amass large forces, the Soviets launched a massive counterattack seven months later, encircling and annihilating the German army. With German casualties reaching as high as 760,000, a significant breach was created on the Eastern Front, directly contributing to Nazi Germany's defeat.

◆Implication: Growing Hostility Toward Hamas... But Cold-Headed Realism Must Prevail

[Image source=AFP Yonhap News]

Because modern urban warfare is so difficult, there are growing concerns not only in the U.S. but also within Israel about the large-scale ground operations being prepared by the Netanyahu administration. Recklessly pushing forward with ground operations could backfire and cause significant casualties to the Israeli military.

Even if the Israeli military risks heavy losses to eliminate all remaining Hamas forces and occupy the Gaza Strip, post-conflict management is expected to be a very troublesome issue. Due to the prolonged blockade, basic infrastructure and supplies are lacking, industrial facilities are inadequate, and the unemployment rate exceeds 70%, creating severe economic difficulties. Occupation could instead increase Israel's economic burden.

The increasing casualties among Gaza's civilian children, who have no connection to Hamas's attacks, also pose a significant diplomatic burden for the Israeli government. While anger toward Hamas will not easily subside, it is hoped that Israel's leadership will make more rational and realistic judgments, and that the international community will seek ways to minimize civilian casualties.