Expert Pavel Zolotarev spoke about the context of changing Israeli tactics in the Gaza Strip
Moscow. October 28th. INTERFAX - Military operations in the Middle East are continuing, but the ground operation, apparently, follows a different scenario.
On this topic, our special correspondent Vyacheslav Terekhov talks with the Deputy Director General of the Institute of the USA and Canada, the head of military and political studies of the Institute, Major General Pavel Zolotarev.
Instead of "iron" - surgical operations
Correspondent: It seems that Israel has chosen the tactics of "dagger strikes" as a ground operation. We used to talk about the so-called ironing of the Gaza Strip from border to border. Why did they refuse, roughly speaking, the "iron"?
Zolotarev: In order to answer this question, we need to look at these events more broadly, and not only through the prism of relations between Israel and Gaza.
It should be borne in mind that there is a steady growth of Muslims in the world - not only the population in Muslim countries, but also those who accept Islam. Of course, they do not sort out any details, and automatically, following the principle of "beating our people", they side with the Palestinians in the Gaza Strip. This is one factor influencing Israel's policy.
Farther. It is necessary to keep in mind the domestic political situation in Western countries, in particular in Europe and the United States. There are a lot of Muslim immigrants on their territory now, and in these countries a cultural concept is being formed about the need to learn to live together, in other words, to learn to understand each other. And if you look at the composition of the demonstrations, there are mixed - both visiting Muslims and local residents. Israel cannot underestimate this, which, accordingly, constrains its actions.
He mobilized his armed forces for a major war, but is forced to choose a different tactic, the tactics of surgical operations. Of course, it is difficult for them to switch to another tactic, but circumstances force them, and the United States, realizing this, supports a change in tactics.
And there is another crucial factor that Israel cannot ignore. The matter is complicated by the fact that Iran and Hezbollah are "at Israel's side". Their intervention can cause a large-scale conflict. And this, clearly, no one wants.
Changing the tactics of warfare - the dictates of time
Correspondent: But the emotional situation in the country, especially in the armed forces, is very tense and is aimed at the desire to go to a big war.
Zolotarev: Yes, the Israeli leadership is in a very difficult situation in such an environment. They have mobilized large forces, emotionally charged the military, who are ready to go to war and are waiting for the order to invade Gaza with all their might, but they are used selectively.
The change in tactics, even despite the emotional intensity, which, strange as it may seem, interferes with the conduct of the war, is understandable to me.
This is the ideal option when it is not the army that should act, but the special operations forces! However, Israel probably does not have such a large number of trained special operations forces, so they involve the armed forces in the raids. They are forced to use the armed forces together with special operations forces. In such a situation, this is the only solution.
It should be understood that the use of special forces is a general trend all over the world. The open use of armed forces is facing a general backlash, because the world itself is becoming global. In it, global connections and their sustainability become important. It is on this that the stability of the global economy and, by and large, as we see, the lives of people even in low-income countries depend.
All this plays against the open use of the armed forces, and special operations forces that carry out actions below the "threshold of war" are beginning to play an increasingly important role.
Correspondent: So, another conclusion from all the events is that Israel did not pay attention to the training of special forces?
ZOLOTAREV: I think they paid attention, but did not assume that their application would be required on such a scale.
Correspondent: Thus, the picture is that from the territory of Israel, "dagger" armed detachments reach the object they need in the underground city, destroy it and return back. That is, a complete rollback from the tactics of the armed "iron".
Zolotarev: Yes, it is no longer necessary to wait for the "big iron". And besides, Israel is thinking about hostages. Even these selective strikes on individual fragments of the underground city, I think they are also trying to carry out based on information about where the hostages are or may be. I hope they have it in at least some version, otherwise there is a danger that they themselves can destroy the hostages.
The "dagger" war can last up to a month
Correspondent. Q: Do you think such a "dagger war" can last for a long time?
Zolotarev: I think that within a month.
Correspondent: In 2014, the Israeli armed forces took the border zone for a month and a half.
Zolotarev: But aviation was used less in that operation compared to today. With such sorties, aviation should have high-precision weapons, not just bombs. Maybe with the use of bombs that can penetrate to a great depth, but again with high accuracy.
Correspondent: Are there any?
Zolotarev: The Americans have.
Reporter: And they shared these weapons with Israel?
ZOLOTAREV: I do not rule out that they will certainly share what they can with Israel. They have already made a choice, according to which high-precision weapons in the general package of assistance to Ukraine and Israel will go, first of all, to Israel.
Is it possible to exchange the world for hostages?
Reporter: Is the option of stopping bombing attacks on Gaza cities in exchange for hostages possible?
Zolotarev: I think that Hamas will not go for it now. They probably fear that if they give up the hostages, their destruction will last.
And as for Israel, I think he is unlikely to agree to this now. They have set the task of destroying Hamas as an organization, and they will not give up on this task.
