Maj. Micky Edelstein: "Every village has tunnels" • At a security conference on the subject called for changing some of the basic assumptions: "A whole strategy is needed to deal with the issue. The enemy wants to force us to act above and below the ground in order to exhaust us."

• IDF actions to locate the tunnel in a northern protective operation // Photo: IDF Spokesman

Gen. Mickey Edelstein, one of the developers of the combat theory against the Gaza assault tunnels, warns that in the next conflict, in the north or the south, the assumption is that the IDF will have to operate underground, and that some of the methods used in the past will no longer be relevant.

Speaking to experts from around the world, at the War and Peace Underground Challenges Conference at the Interdisciplinary Center Herzliya, in collaboration with West Point and the US Embassy, ​​Edelstein said some of the basic assumptions against the enemy needed to be changed, including moral questions about civilian casualties.

"There is a need to change many of the basic assumptions. The enemy wants to force us to act above and below the ground at the same time, in order to exhaust us and lead to further civilian attacks," he said. He noted that buildings that were purged of terrorists could also be a risk due to tunnels, so the course of action should be changed. If there was a question in the past whether offensive tunnels could be used without entering them, "In the future we will not have this privilege. There is a 100 percent chance we will face the challenge of the tunnels in Gaza and Lebanon." He added in a conversation with "Israel Today" that the threat of tunnels in the north is unequivocal. "Every village has tunnels."

Edelstein emphasized that the IDF is working to address any underground challenge, because there are many challenges in these types of battles. "All the benefits that are above the ground are reduced to almost zero underground - if shooting, contact and forces are capable of firing." The problem is that we do not have the intelligence capability regarding the location of each tunnel. One of the gaps we had was the need to quickly identify each tunnel, move without too many casualties and neutralize it by various means. There is no single unit capable of doing this, and a whole strategy is needed to tackle the issue.

Photo: Ofer Freiman Frames Production, IDF Spokesman

"Although we have eliminated many tunnels, we have not yet been able to change the course of action of the terrorist organizations," said the general. "We were able to change the situation a little bit with regard to the assault tunnels, but not with regard to their defense, command and launch tunnels." He said there was also a tactical question when it comes to handling tunnels while fighting. "We need to ask ourselves if handling a specific tunnel will not slow us down too much, as opposed to the big task."

"Many tunnels are in civilian areas and civilian structures. If you want to destroy a target, but you have to demolish a ten-story building to do so, is it morally justified?" Flooded the question. "The civilians are not always aware of what is going on under their feet. While some of the tunnels are in the buildings, the terrorist organizations are not digging them to the end in order to prepare them in real time. Our fighters. Some civilians are aware of the activity, but others are not. Some have to allow tunnels to be built under their homes. "

"The terrorists are digging up to half a meter from the building." Champion Mickey Edelstein

In answering a question on the subject, Edelstein also addressed the issue of Iron Dome. "The Iron Dome technology was very correct for its era, when the technology would cater to much cheaper solutions," he hinted at future capabilities of the IDF, probably in the laser field. He warned that the question of the financial efficiency of Iron Dome missiles is out of place. Of this mistake, especially not in the questions of human life, "he said.