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Hamas’s Underground Combat Strategies: Insights from the 2019 Manual
Explore the intricate underground combat strategies employed by Hamas, as revealed in their 2019 manual. This analysis offers deep insights into tactical operations, enhancing our understanding of modern asymmetric warfare.
Hamas’s Underground Combat Handbook
Hamas has developed a comprehensive handbook for underground combat that meticulously outlines strategies for operating in low-light conditions, executing stealthy movements beneath Gaza, and effectively utilizing automatic weapons in confined spaces to maximize lethality. This manual serves as a crucial guide for their fighters, providing detailed instructions on various tactical maneuvers.
Notably, battlefield commanders were directed to meticulously time, down to the second, how long it took their operatives to traverse between different underground locations. This level of precision underscores the extensive planning that has gone into their underground military operations.
Seized by Israeli forces, the 2019 manual highlights Hamas’s long-term strategy, which was initiated well before the attack on October 7 and the ongoing conflict with Israel. The group’s focus has been on creating an underground military framework capable of enduring protracted assaults and hindering Israeli ground forces navigating the complex tunnel systems.
In a significant move just a year prior to the assault on Israel, Yahya Sinwar, the leader of Hamas in the Gaza Strip, authorized an expenditure of $225,000 for the installation of blast doors designed to safeguard the militia’s tunnel network from airstrikes and ground incursions. This decision reflects a calculated effort to reinforce their underground infrastructure.
The approval document indicated that Hamas brigade commanders meticulously assessed the tunnels beneath Gaza, pinpointing critical locations both underground and at the surface that warranted enhanced fortification. This strategic evaluation is vital for understanding the resilience of Hamas’s operations.
Additionally, records from these reviews, combined with insights from experts and Israeli military leaders, elucidate the challenges Israel has faced in its year-long campaign to dismantle Hamas. The complexity and depth of the underground network have proven to be significant obstacles to achieving their military objectives.