MH-22: War in the Middle East

1. MH-22: War in the Middle East Violence Across the Spectrum of Conflict

2. Impact of Advanced Weapons Technology • Impact of Advanced Weapons Technology: • Regional conflicts more violent & destructive • Examples of advanced weapons applied in regional wars: • Electronic & computer techniques • Precision guided munitions (enhanced target precision) • Medium range ballistic missiles • Chemical agents (Iran-Iraq war) • US & USSR weapons & tech advances provided to clients: • Paid for by vast ME oil reserves (hence motive to protect) • Also availed practical arms laboratory for testing US & Soviet equipment (vicarious Superpower bragging rights) • Weapons tested under actual combat & Battle conditions • Such as Arab-Israeli Wars or USSR-Afghanistan War (US support rebels)

3. Violence Across the Spectrum of Conflict • Middle East Wars: waged throughout the Cold war • At levels of violence across full spectrum of conflict=> • Another growing phenomenon: • Conflicts & wars tended to occur => • With greater frequency & higher levels of violence • Especially true in the M.E. & SW Asia regions: • Most significant conflicts were: • Arab-Israeli Wars (which continue at various levels) • Iran-Iraq War • Afghanistan War (or the Soviet’s Vietnam)

4. Combat Environment in Asia

5. Middle East & SW Asia

6. Political Map of ME & SW Asia

7. Overview of Major ME & SW Asia Conflicts • First examine major conflicts of Middle East since 1948 • Begin with the History of Arab-Israeli conflicts

8. Arab-Israeli Wars • Long history of tension & conflict between both sides • Continues to this day- particularly over what? • Following WWII=> all this came to a head • The British departed (abandoned) Palestine • UN proposed dividing Palestine into two states • A partitioned Palestine with an Arab & Jewish state • Arabs objected & tensions soon escalated • Then the Israelis declared establishment of an independent state • Arab rejection to prospect of Israeli state took form in political & military resistance • Following UN partition of Palestine: • Palestinians especially conducted terror & insurgencies • Finally all out conventional war with all ME Arab states Palestine

9. 1948 Middle East War • AKA “War of Independence” to Israelis • Begins immediately following proclamation of State of Israel • (And soon after US recognition) • Both acts prompt immediate condemnation by Arabs • Egyptian A/C strike Tel Aviv • Followed soon after by ground attacks by Egypt, Jordan, Syria, Lebanon, Iraq, & Saudi Arabia • But Arab attacks are uncoordinated, sporadic, and without unity of command

10. Israeli Counterattack • Lack of coordination & operational shortfalls take toll on Arab armies • Allowed Israeli militias time to regroup & counterattack • After 4 weeks of fighting a better coordinated though outnumbered Israeli army counterattacks • Soon pushed Arabs back from initial gains and even into the loss column • Brave but poorly led Arab army forced to withdraw • UN coordinated Cease fire lines & Armistice Agreement • Established in 1949

11. 1956 Sues Crisis • 8 years later, following escalating tensions, Nasser came to power in Egypt • Aim: unite Arabs under his leadership • Modernize & reinvigorate Egyptian Armed Forces • Sought Soviet support following West rejection to help • Nasser would reach modernization goal • CZ provided intermediary link for Soviet support • Then Nasser nationalized Suez Canal to pay for his military modernization expenses • Nasser’s moves upset potential ME balance of power • Israel, concerned about Soviet support to Egypt, joined forces with an outraged Britain & France

12. Preemptive Attack • Britain & France conspired with Israel to attack Egypt • Israel agreed to attack on ground across Sinai desert • Plan: Britain & France will issue demarche’ to both sides to stay 10 mile apart from Suez canal • Otherwise they will intervene to secure Suez Canal • (ALCON expected Egypt to reject this ultimatum) • 28 Oct 1956: Israel attacked across Sinai with impressive results • Conducted well planned & coordinated attack • Achieved complete operational & tactical surprise • Soon achieved all tactical objectives • Britain & France conduct air strikes, airborne & amphibious landings in & around Suez • But soon forced to back down by US (Ike) & USSR pressure=> marked end of British influence in ME • Israeli lessons learned: • Corrected C3 & armor-infantry integration problems for next time

13. Six Day War- Opening Moves • The Next Time occurred a decade later: • Soviet false intelligence prompts Arabs to mobilize • Nasser’s rhetoric and aggressive actions in Sinai spur Israeli concerns • Jordan joined the anti-Israel alliance already in place between Egypt and Syria • Nasser ordered UN peace keepers out of Sinai • Then Egypt blockaded Straits of Tiran • Israel concluded attack was imminent & mobilized • Launched preemptive strike against Egyptian front

14. Operation Moked • June 5, 1967: Israeli air force strike Egyptian airfields & eliminate most of Egypt's air force • Then do the same to Jordan’s & Syria’s • Most important operation of the war- why? • Eliminated Arab ability to mobilize its ?__________ & ?________ forces • Israel now has air superiority (decisive) • 7 June: Israeli tanks attack Egypt’s • Egyptian forces defeated & forced to withdraw from Sinai

15. Jordan Salient & the Golan Heights • Jordan’s forces put up good fight in their western salient • But Jerusalem is soon taken by Israelis • Jordan soon defeated by superior Israeli army & is forced to surrender on 7th • Syrian forces are driven from Golan Heights • Withdraw but find themselves vulnerable to Israeli destruction • Surrender on 10 June 1967 • Results: Israel gains most territory • Gain military reputation as “invincible” • Arabs humiliated by defeat in six days • Revert to raids into Israel & arty strikes • Nasser conducts “War of Attrition”

16. Yom Kippur War – Oct 1973 • Anwar Sadat succeeds Nasser as President of Egypt • Embarks on mission to upgrade Army’s leadership & modernize its equipment • Especially upgrade air defense systems with Soviet SAMs • Aim: demonstrate to world that Israel was notinvincible • Sadat coordinated with Syrians to attack simultaneously with Egyptians – reason? • Confront IDF with ?____________________ war from both North & South • Main obstacle Egyptian attack to recover Sinai • 25 meter high sand dunes on east side of Suez Canal • Manned along entire Bar Lev defense line by 500 IDF • Consisting of small fortifications every 10-12 KM • On Saturday 6 Oct 1973 (Yom Kippur) they attacked • Egyptians along entire Bar Lev Line front 70K troops vs. 500 • Syrians attack in the North with 1500 Tanks against 157

17. Yom Kippur War- Egyptian Front • Israelis caught by complete strategic & tactical surprise • Egypt penetrates 10-12 KM east of Canal (high pressure hoses) • IDF aircraft are shot down by SAMs & IDF tanks are destroyed by anti-tankRPG-7s & saggers(3K meters) • Oct 14: Egypt launches 6 thrusts of 2000 tanks (lose 200) • But Egypt's penetration of 15 KM leaves troops outside air defense zone & vulnerable to IDF aircraft • Oct 15: re-supplied by US, IDF (MG Sharon’s Division) cross canal north of Bitter Lakes • Exploit gap between 2nd & 3rd Army & cut off 3rd Army from rear & destroy Egypt's air defenses

18. Golan Heights • Syrian’s attack in Golan Heights cued to Egyptians • Syrians able to capture IDF Intel collection site on Mt. Hermon • 11 Oct: IDF are reinforced and begin to push Syrians back • Syrians fall back behind 1967 Cease-Fire Line • 13 Oct: IDF destroy Iraqi tank brigade & break Syrian line • Sayeret Matkal SOF recapture Mount Hermon after heavy causalities by 22 Oct & come in sight (& heavy arty) of Damascus: - then halt

19. Operation Gazelle 15-23 Oct 1973 • Sharon clears pass through Egyptians to east side of canal • Establishes bridgehead and builds bridge over canal to west side • Adan & Morgan’s divisions follow - 3rd Egyptian army trapped • UN & Superpowers call for cease fire - finally agreed to • IDF wins tactical & operational victory but Sadat also wins- why?

20. Iraqi Initial Gains- 1980 • Saddam Hussein attempted to take advantage of Iran’s political chaos & debilitated army following their 1979 revolution • Aim: curtail growing Iranian Shi’ite Islamic fundamentalism • Feared potential influence on his own Iraqi majority Shi’ites • Seized key geographic areas in Iran • Extended Iraqi influence into PG • His modernized army attacked along a broad front • 1700 tanks, 1800 APCs, 340 A/C • Made only nominal gains along entire 1100 KM border into Iran

21. Stalemate • War soon bogged down into stalemate ala WWI style • Iran launched numerous frontal attacks killing almost a million • Children, women & old men provided mine clearance with their bodies • Saddam tried to disengage but Iran pressed on • War dragged on for 8 years & only ended when Iran felt threatened by US • US became directly involved during “tanker wars” in PG • Conducted direct actions against Iran staging platforms & mine layers • War demonstrated ruthlessness of Saddam & insanity of Iran religious zealots • Human wave assaults of women & children against heavy weapons, mines, & gas

22. Afghanistan War 1978-1988 • April 1978 Muhammad Daoud was overthrown in Soviet supported coup & PRA seized control • Situation deteriorated into chaos as many factions resisted new government • Soviets placed Babrak Karmal in power but insurgency continued to grow worse • 1986 Soviets replaced Karmal with Najibullah • Soviets controlled most urban centers • Afghan Mujahedeencontrolled the mountains • Soviets reinforced initial SOF with large conventional forces & armored columns • Including tanks & heavy attack Hind Helos • Bomb Paki sanctuaries & LOCs- all to no avail • Like NVA, Afghans decide when, where, & how • CIA covertly supported insurgents from Pakistan with weapons & later Stingers • In time War bogged down into Soviet’s Vietnam • Political & economic problems at home ended it

23. Cold War in Retrospect- Assessment • Cold War (CW): • From end of WWII in 1945 to collapse of Soviet Union in 1991 • Thru-out- greatest influence => Nuclear Weapons: • Shaped policy, strategy & force structures of both sides • Each technological advance generated reaction => • Each side attempted to keep up with other => • Promoted Arms Race & increased global tensions • Following Soviet acquisition of A-bomb (then Nukes)=> • US & USSR faced with possible escalation of any crisis • Result: must avoid direct confrontation=> (why?) • Avoid potential for ?__________ to ?__________ War • (From crisis =>low intensity => mid =>high => Thermo- ?____)

24. Problem: GW & Protracted War • Advanced weapons & technology was used by both clients/allies • For most part => US & Soviets avoided escalations: • (The one very close exception?) • As for the other 160 conflicts below the High Intensity Conflict (HIC) threshold: • Asian Wars particularly hard for US: (Korea, Vietnam) • GW & protractedvs. American style conventionalwars • Totally different philosophy & doctrine towards war • (i.e. Clausewitzof Europe vs. Sun Tzuof China) • LBJ & Westmorelandvs.Mao, Ho Chi Minh & Giap ?_______ __________ ________

25. New Challenges & Response • USSR faired no better in Afghanistan for similar reasons: • In this case=> decentralized Islamic Fundamentalistsinsurgents • Terrorism bought new challenges, beginning in late’60s: • Response: elite SOF CT units(Israeli Sayeret Matkal commandos, Mossad) • GSG-9, SAS, Commando Hubert, • US: JSOTF, Delta & ST6 • All demonstrated some success (known & unknown) • Chemical Agents also employed at various times: • By Soviets against Mujahedeen (early stages of war) • US (AgentOrange herbicidein RVN); • Also employed by 3rd world opponents • Iraq used Chemical agents against Kurds • (As poor man’s Nuke)

26. Protracted War & Weapon Advances • Cold War conflicts largely more protracted: • Korea (fighting while negotiating - last 2 years of war) • Vietnam (US: 1961-73); Iran-Iraq (‘80-88); • Soviets in Afghanistan (‘79-89); • Major exceptions? => Israel-Arab wars (‘56, ‘67, ‘73) • But still unsettled to this day – no real peace! • Weapons technology advances: • Vietnam: Helo, initial precision guided munitions • Yom Kippur war: further weapon advances/refinements • Afghanistan: US SA-7 - air defense against USSR Helos • Other Technology & weapon advances included: • C3I: SATCOMM, Photo-Intelligence • A/C: U-2, MC-130 Blackbird, AC-130, CAS attack; • Computers, & advanced Logistics systems

27. Cold War Doctrine, Tactics, & Training • CW Battles proved truly 3 dimensional (air-ground-sea) • Air-Groundcoordination & interface increased • Air-mobile ops (Helo) => effectively employed • Israel (‘67 & ’73 Wars)=> offered superior example: • Effective & efficient force structure & C2 • Superior doctrine, tactics, & training: • Outstanding SOF & Intelligence interface • Excellent INTELL network in M.E. (HUMINT) • Best VFRair to air combat capability in region • (At least until Top gunestablished) • Still=> technology had its limits (Strategic Air & Helos) • Vietnam & Afghanistan prime examples of these limits

28. Conclusion • No one concept or theory can accurately represent Cold Warera • Key Cold War changes include: • Refined Operational concepts & technology advances • Limited warfaremotives validated- to an extent: • US avoided direct conflict with the Soviets & conflict escalation to WW3 • Limited warfaretheories invalidated: • Gradual escalation & strategy of attrition (Vietnam) didn’t work • Ability to precisely send right message to enemy=> • With hoped for appropriate response unrealistic (due in part to friction) • Spectrum of conflict expanded: (especially within LIC & terrorism) • Cold War was an era of significant innovation & change: • New tactical concepts & many weapon & technological advances • Result: • Violence intensified throughout all levels of conflict • Now apparently on whole new level (suicide bombers)