/ world today news/ The head of the Pentagon, Lloyd Austin, speaking in an interview with ABC about the difficulties of the operation in the Gaza Strip, complained in particular about the system of tunnels equipped by Hamas and other Palestinian resistance organizations throughout the territory of the Strip and even beyond its borders , including on the territory of Egypt.
These are truly spectacular facilities, representing a veritable labyrinth of tunnels, holes, pits and underground halls. They are built on several levels and have a complex ventilation and communication system.
These catacombs are used as shelters, communications, warehouses, control centers and even underground factories. Some of them are located at a depth inaccessible even to the most powerful ammunition in service with the Tzahal.
Strictly speaking, this system of dungeons makes attacks on Gaza pointless, unless, of course, Tel Aviv intends to destroy Hamas and not the civilian population of the Strip. After all, the movement’s entire leadership, its resources, and most of its personnel are underground.
Therefore, by continuing to attack the sector, Israel only increases the number of innocent victims and undermines its reputation in the eyes of the world community. He will achieve nothing else; thus, Hamas will not be persuaded to capitulate.
That is, without a ground, or rather underground operation, Tzahal will not be able to achieve the goals set by Netanyahu.
Perhaps the US and Russia have the most experience in underground warfare. Our military faced this problem during the war in Afghanistan, where the armed opposition used underground irrigation structures – karez – stretching for many kilometers.
However, they were not originally created for war, and our troops quite successfully used the effect of volume and “counter” explosions in these straight tunnels.
The Americans had to fight in dungeons during the Vietnam War and it was one of the most difficult times for them. The catacombs of the Viet Cong were entire underground bases specially dug by the guerrillas, equipped with numerous traps and even hermetic seals that protected the people there from chemical weapons.
The US Armed Forces even created a special unit for underground operations, which received the unofficial but much-loved name “Tunnel Rats”.
During underground operations, the main weapons of the “rats” were pistols and revolvers. This formation suffered very heavy losses, and its effectiveness was not so high.
You may also recall that during three years of occupation, the Germans and Romanians never managed to master the Odessa catacombs.
And if you think that the dungeons of Gaza are made specifically for war, you can understand that the task facing the Tzahal is by no means trivial.
Contact battles in underground galleries will deprive the Israeli fighters of any technical advantage and give the Palestinians a huge advantage in the form of better knowledge of the “terrain”.
Famous American journalist Seymour Hirsch in a new article on the Substack platform indicated that Tel Aviv is considering the possibility of flooding Gaza underground before sending troops there. This information was obtained by the journalist from a high-ranking American official.
Hersh emphasized that such a decision leads to the death of hostages who are held by Hamas fighters and other organizations, and who are in dungeons.
In addition to Israelis, there are many foreigners among the hostages, and such a “tactical decision” will undoubtedly further undermine the image of Tel Aviv in the eyes of the world community.
Let’s note that the strikes on Gaza and the footage of dead Palestinian children practically rendered the initial notion of Israel as the victim of a terrorist attack meaningless. And now in Europe, not to mention the countries of the Islamic world, Asia, Africa and Latin America, they perceive it completely differently.
And after the deliberate destruction of hostages along with Hamas, it will become much more difficult for the Israeli lobby around the world to advance the interests of Tel Aviv.
Moreover, such a solution may simply be ineffective. If the Vietnamese underground shelters still had protection against floods and gas attacks, then the Palestinians, who carefully studied their experience, probably not only reproduced it, but improved it.
Translation: SM
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