ISRAELI COUNTERINSURGENCY STRATEGY AND THE WAR IN SOUTH LEBANON, 1985-1987

In: Small wars & insurgencies, Band 8, Heft 3, S. 82-108

Abstract

THIS ARTICLE ASSESSES THE STRATEGIES AND TACTICS EMPLOYED BY THE ISRAELI DEFENSE FORCE (IDF) IN SOUTH LEBANON AGAINST THE CONTEXT OF ISRAELI MILITARY DOCTRINE. IT CONCENTRATES ON HOW THE FAILURE TO DEVELOP A COHERENT STRATEGY OF COUNTER-INSURGENCY WITHIN THE IDF DESIGNED TO COUNTER THE PARTICULAR CHALLENGE OF HIZB'ALLAH, HAS RESULTED IN ISRAEL ADOPTING DRACONIAN MEASURES AGAINST SHI'A VILLAGES AND TOWNS IN SOUTH LEBANON. CONTRARY TO ISRAEL'S ASSERTIONS, THE FAILURE TO EITHER DEVISE OR IMPLEMENT ANY SEMBLANCE OF A "HEARTS AND MINDS" CAMPAIGN AMONG THE SHI'A HAS MERELY SERVED TO REINFORCE HIZB'ALLAH'S CLAIM TO BE THE TRUE PROTECTORS OF THE SELF-SAME POPULATION.