All generals plan military operations based on the ten principles of war – rules if you like, which, if adhered to, will provide the best chance of success. The most important of these principles is the selection and maintenance of an aim.
Even if every Hamas terrorist in Gaza is killed or captured, it is questionable whether that would mean that the group has been truly destroyed
The aim should always be a single, unambiguous and easily understood objective – such as destroying the enemy located on Hill X. It then follows that everyone, from the most senior officer to the lowest ranked soldier, knows what needs to be done and can build their tactical plans around that single, achievable goal.
The issue for the Israeli Defence Forces is that its aim in Gaza – the complete annihilation of Hamas – is at best nebulous and is now at risk of undermining Israel’s entire military strategy.
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