Renowned military analyst and former NATO Supreme Allied Commander, General Wesley Clark, has shed light on what happens behind the scenes to gather information on incidents happening during an active war. He focused specifically on the ongoing conflict seen in the Israeli Defence Forces' (IDF) area of engagement.
According to General Clark, the initial step is to understand what transpired in the actual combat zone. This involves interviewing troops and commanders, trying to triangulate instructions given, and the actions taken. This process often goes up the chain of command and can take several days.
The seasoned military expert threw light on the potential uncertainty and danger that come with combat situations. He explained that soldiers are often under orders to engage any persons who could pose threats, leading to situations where the instant reciprocal action might not be the best option. These situations can be amplified in circumstances where hostages are involved as proper identification can be challenging in the heat of battle.
Furthermore, General Clark also highlighted the rising issue of friendly fire casualties. Recent reports indicated the death of 13 Israeli soldiers due to friendly fire – accounting for roughly one out of every eight IDF deaths occurring in Gaza. Such incidents generally lead to a review of combat rules of engagement and soldier coordination on the field.
The potential mismatch between orders of operation and situational realities necessitates a comprehensive look at the rules of engagement, said General Clark. This review also demands an in-depth analysis of troop maneuvers, information flow, and fratricide avoidance methods.
General Clark noted that the challenges facing Israeli forces reflect a long-standing problem for many fighting forces, stressing on the importance of distinguishing identification methods, rules of engagement, disciplined training, and clear communication.
He ended by acknowledging the tragedy that often becomes an unavoidable aspect of the battleground. As the ground engagement intensifies, the likelihood of casualties and friendly fire incidents also increases, creating a devastating trade-off that military bodies have to contend with on a daily basis.
Finally, it was confirmed that the third hostage mistakenly killed in an IDF operation was named Alon Shamreze. More updates on this unfortunate incident are expected to follow.
