IDF Deaths Highlight Perils of Urban Warfare

Since the Israel Defense Forces (IDF) began ground operations in Gaza on October 27, 139 Israeli troops have been killed. However, terrorists in Gaza have killed IDF soldiers at a roughly 30 percent higher daily rate since December 1, following the pause in combat operations to allow for hostage releases and after the IDF pushed into southern Gaza. This underscores the dangers of urban warfare, highlights the intensity of recent operations, suggests that Hamas may have exploited the pause to prepare for more effective combat, and likely reflects increasing IDF reliance on ground forces, relative to air power, risking greater numbers of casualties.

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