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
  conflictgt
• Another growing phenomenon
• Conflicts wars tended to occur gt
• 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 Soviets 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 WWIIgt 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
• Nassers 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
  pressuregt 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
• Nassers 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 Jordans Syrias
• 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 Egypts
• Egyptian forces defeated forced to withdraw
  from Sinai

15
Jordan Salient the Golan Heights

• Jordans 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 Armys leadership
  modernize
  its equipment
• Especially upgrade air defense systems with
  Soviet SAMs
• Aim demonstrate to world that Israel was not
  invincible
• 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-tank RPG-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 Sharons
  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

• Syrians 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 Morgans 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
  Irans political chaos debilitated army
  following their 1979 revolution
• Aim curtail growing Iranian Shiite Islamic
  fundamentalism
• Feared potential influence on his own Iraqi
  majority Shiites
• 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 Mujahedeen controlled 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 Soviets 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 gt Nuclear Weapons
• Shaped policy, strategy force structures of
  both sides
• Each technological advance generated reaction gt
• Each side attempted to keep up with other gt
• Promoted Arms Race increased global tensions
• Following Soviet acquisition of A-bomb
  (then Nukes)gt
• US USSR faced with possible
  escalation of any
  crisis
• Result must avoid direct confrontation gt
  (why?)
• Avoid potential for ?__________ to ?__________
  War
• (From crisis gtlow intensity gt mid gthigh gt
  Thermo- ?____)

24
Problem GW Protracted War

• Advanced weapons technology was used by both
  clients/allies
• For most part gt 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 protracted vs. American style conventional
  wars
• Totally different philosophy doctrine towards
  war
• (i.e. Clausewitz of Europe vs. Sun Tzu of China)
• LBJ Westmoreland vs. Mao, Ho Chi Minh Giap

?_______ __________ ________
25
New Challenges Response

• USSR faired no better in Afghanistan for similar
  reasons
• In this casegt decentralized Islamic
  Fundamentalists insurgents
• Terrorism bought new challenges, beginning in
  late60s
• 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 (Agent Orange herbicide in RVN)
• Also employed by 3rd world opponents
• Iraq used Chemical agents against Kurds
• (As poor mans 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? gt 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/refinement
  s
• 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-Ground coordination interface increased
• Air-mobile ops (Helo) gt effectively employed
• Israel (67 73 Wars)gt offered superior
  example
• Effective efficient force structure C2
• Superior doctrine, tactics, training
• Outstanding SOF Intelligence interface
• Excellent INTELL network in M.E. (HUMINT)
• Best VFR air to air combat capability in region
• (At least until Top gun established)
• Stillgt 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 War era
• Key Cold War changes include
• Refined Operational concepts technology
  advances
• Limited warfare motives validated- to an extent
• US avoided direct conflict with the Soviets
  conflict escalation to WW3
• Limited warfare theories invalidated
• Gradual escalation strategy of attrition
  (Vietnam) didnt work
• Ability to precisely send right message to
  enemygt
• 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)