Publications

The nature of IDF combat in the security zone in southern Lebanon imposed many restraints on the regular army’s ground forces and their ability to operate in a way reflecting the IDF’s traditional doctrine of combined ground warfare. The reasons for these limitations are beyond the scope of this article; suffice it to mention the anachronistic activity in the security zone and the trouble the IDF encountered in executing attacks on short notice and with rushed battle procedures. The retreat from southern Lebanon and the war on Palestinian terrorism in 2000-2005 forced the IDF to make far reaching changes in its operational concept and in the forces’ operational freedom on the ground.