U.S. military advisers are urging Israel to avoid the type of brutal urban combat that American forces faced in Fallujah, Iraq in 2004 as Israel prepares an assault on Gaza.
Instead of a full ground invasion, the U.S. is advising precision airstrikes and targeted special operations raids to defeat Hamas while minimizing risks to hostages, civilians, and regional stability.
Strategies from the U.S.-led campaign to retake Mosul, Iraq from ISIS in 2017 are being invoked, relying more on special ops versus conventional forces. Like ISIS, Hamas uses tunnels and human shields.
To deliver this message, the Biden administration has sent Gen. James Glynn, a veteran of the bloody Fallujah fighting, to advise the IDF on urban warfare planning.
Since Hamas’ October 7th attack, the U.S. has grown concerned an Israeli ground invasion of Gaza could lead to an indefinite and bloody occupation. The U.S. aims to steer Israel toward surgical strikes rather than a risky urban conflict.