Amir Rapaport’s Column: The World’s First Tunnel War
The big story of the Gaza War is unfolding beneath the surface, still largely shrouded in secrecy. Meanwhile, these are the main gaps that remain in the fight against Hamas
Israel Defense 4/02/2024
https://www.israeldefense.co.il/en/node/61123
When Yahya Sinwar sent the Nukhba forces to attack Israel, he did not expect the IDF to fight against them in direct face-to-face battles within the 'metro' of Gaza. But here is an amazing detail: The IDF did not anticipate that either. The technological means and methods employed by the most elite units of the IDF in recent days were developed amid actual combat
Still much remains hidden from the public eye, but it is clear that we are dealing with an underground warfare capability like never before, unmatched anywhere else in the world. We will delve into what is known, starting with the historical context.
The Viet Cong in Vietnam
In an extensive review of tunnel warfare published by the IDF History Department over 20 years ago, it was noted that the use of 'subterranean warfare' began as early as the biblical period and was also used in ancient China.
Tunnels were also utilized for warfare in the 20th-century world wars. After World War II, for example, three prominent examples were found, highlighting that combat tunnels significantly challenged the operations of organized armies.
The most well-known example is that of the Viet Cong fighters in Vietnam. The tunnels they constructed were numerous, and intricate, and most of them had a significant depth of eight meters. Their total length: is approximately 240 kilometers.
A few years later, Red Army soldiers faced the phenomenon of tunnels in battles against Mujahideen fighters in Afghanistan. Some of these tunnels were later utilized by Al-Qaeda to evade the long arm of the United States."
The caves and tunnels in Afghanistan and Vietnam were mostly constructed in open terrain. In contrast, the Chechens built a network of tunnels beneath their capital, Grozny, and fought underground against Russia.
From these examples, it is evident that tunnels provide an advantage for guerrilla fighters, but not necessarily the ability to overcome a significantly stronger enemy.
In the end, in most cases, strength prevails. For example, we all know that the tunnels did not save the fighters of Bar Kokhba against the Roman legionnaires in the rebellion that ended in one of our great tragedies. Nor did the tunnels save ISIS fighters in battles against the United States in Mosul, Iraq - in an example most similar to what unfolds in Gaza.
Operation Cast Lead
In hindsight, one might wonder why the IDF needs to develop new means for tunnel warfare during the conflict itself, considering the historical review was written long ago. After all, the threat of tunnels was known, and it only gained momentum after Hamas seized control of the Gaza Strip in 2007. The IDF knew then that the network Hamas was building included tunnels of two types – for attack and defense.
In November 2008, the Paratroopers Brigade launched Operation Double Challenge against a terror tunnel that originated inside Gaza and led into Israeli territory.
At the time, the commander of the Paratroopers Brigade was Herzi Halevy, the current chief of staff. The commander of the reconnaissance battalion that carried out the operation in practice was Yaron Finkelman, who is now the Southern Command’s commander – a position which then was manned by Yoav Gallant, the current minister of defense. Operation Double Challenge led to an escalation that unfolded within six weeks into Operation Cast Lead.
Against the threat of offensive, terror tunnels, which also made headlines in 2014 during Operation Protective Edge, the IDF and the Ministry of Defense erected the barrier surrounding Gaza from above and below ground. On October 7th, the barrier was easily breached in its upper part. Against defensive tunnels, the IDF simply did not intend to fight from the inside.
While various methods have been planned over the years to cope with all types of tunnels, such as entrance detonation or sealing, no one imagined a scenario where IDF soldiers would maneuver inside the tunnels themselves – attempting to locate hostages and eliminate terrorists.
The defensive tunnel challenge
In practice, the challenge of defensive tunnels is on an unprecedented scale globally. In the IDF, there is astonishment to discover that the 'metro' beneath the Gaza Strip includes hundreds of kilometers cumulatively, much more than estimated and more than what the Viet Cong created in all of Vietnam.
The underground communication means in Gaza are sophisticated, as are the tunnel entrances. Hamas can stay in the tunnels for an almost unlimited period: they generate electricity from generators and extract water from underground sources. Each tunnel includes numerous levels and branches, complicating the enemy's operations within them.
And yet, the IDF General Staff decided to send soldiers into the tunnels. To engage in direct underground combat. This has no historical precedent, as in all previous cases, armies preferred to fight against tunnel dwellers using methods like starvation or fire. In any case, from above. The IDF didn’t even consider using toxic gases, which would contradict the Geneva Convention or any other means that might put the lives of the hostages at risk.
The intent was to flow water into the tunnels. The IDF confirmed this week, for the first time, the publication in the global media about a system that has been developed and activated to pump water into the tunnels (one of the challenges, beyond the military aspect, is not to pollute the groundwater of Gaza with saltwater).
In hindsight, although it seems that the water flow system does not drown Hamas within the tunnels, it may have additional advantages such as mapping the 'metro' and its branches based on the flow pattern.
But what about fighting inside the tunnels themselves? From exposed methods, it can be learned that the IDF uses advanced tunnel combat techniques, including dogs, many of which have been harmed, and remotely operated means, such as robots – some, probably, armed. The highlight is the entry of special forces into the subterranean frontlines. Beyond being a global precedent, this marks the first time in the history of the IDF that the most elite units play such a central role in warfare.
Typically, special forces are reserved for specific, targeted missions in periods between wars. The burden placed on special forces in this conflict also results in casualties.
The people’s economy
As mentioned, most of the underground warfare stories are still classified. However, it is apparent that the main drama has been unfolding in the vicinity of the Khan Yunis area, where perhaps some of the most wanted figures of Hamas, along with several of the hostages, are still believed to be located.
The style of warfare employed by the IDF in Gaza these days, especially in the Khan Yunis area, has generated significant interest among friendly armies worldwide. It was possible to learn about this through a remote discussion held this week between senior officials of Fort Sill, the artillery center of the U.S. Army, and the Chief Artillery Officer of the IDF, Colonel Yair Natanz.
It seems that the Americans are highly impressed by the way the IDF successfully integrates firepower from the sea, air, and land, and the rapid progress - relative to the time it took them to capture Mosul.
The warfare in the Khan Yunis area is conducted by Brigade 98, both above and below ground. The necessity to operate in tunnels leads to every action being carried out with caution and thoroughness.
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