In recent days, with the renewal of fighting in the "Iron Sword War", IDF forces have resumed simultaneous maneuvers in the air, sea and land – with high efficiency, thanks to the cooperation between ground forces and air forces, which have become one of the most prominent and necessary components since the beginning of the ground maneuver in Gaza.
The Air Force Cooperation Unit, which is responsible for coordination between all forces, in the air, sea and on land, reveals some of its modus operandi, including the ways that led to its high efficiency.
Since the beginning of the fighting, about 10,000 airstrikes have been carried out under the direction of the forces on the ground, in short periods. Thanks to the cooperation between the forces, circles were closed, terrorist squads, terrorist infrastructure, operational apartments, tunnel shafts, weapons depots and more were thwarted.
"The unit was established about 40 years ago as an unequivocal and moral need in our ability to carry out integrated missions," says the unit commander. "We are the only unit through which the soldier reaches the company commander at the end. The unit relies on a few regular soldiers, especially reservists, who report according to call."
Regarding the process that precedes the attacks, the unit commander said: "It's a very simple process during which the officer speaks directly to the control cell and transmits all the data in the most professional and accurate way possible, in a few minutes you have an attack that is carried out. The number of attacks carried out so far reaches over 10,000 munitions, of which 8,000 are combat munitions."
Israeli Air Force attack in the Gaza Strip, photo: AP
Subsequently, the unit commander told a number of recent stories in which the effectiveness and importance of cooperation were proven: "A battalion that went on an attack in Beit Hanoun encountered a squad from a tall building with anti-tank fire and snipers firing in directions, they operated a combat helicopter but the squad was in the building. They made a request for a 'flash' and soon there was a quiet area that allowed them to keep moving forward. In another incident, a team of the 401st Brigade sets out in the direction of Jabaliya and encounters an unexpected anti-tank fight. We entered a complex incident of wounded with a combat helicopter trying to help closely, within an hour there were several flash strikes."
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