EVOLUTION OF ISRAELI WARFARE TACTICS IN THE MIDDLE EAST

Abstract

The State of Israel has historically experimented with a vast range of military tactics to strengthen its position in the Middle East. This study highlights the relationship between military innovation, geopolitical changes, and strategic recalibrations as it critically analyses the development of Israeli warfare tactics in the Middle East from the state's establishment to the present. This study, which is based on the Defensive Realism theoretical framework, shows how Israel's early conventional warfare—which was intended to help the country survive in the face of hostile neighbours—gradually gave way to asymmetric and hybrid tactics meant to preserve regional supremacy. The paper examines how Israel has responded to changing threats from both state and non-state actors by thoroughly examining significant military operations and technological advancements, such as targeted assassinations, cyberwarfare, artificial intelligence (AI) in Intelligence, Surveillance, and Reconnaissance (ISR), and the incorporation of unmanned aerial systems. From the fundamentals of Israeli deterrence and the "security dilemma" to the tactical change towards precision attacks and preemptive operations against organizations like Hamas and Hezbollah, the debates take place throughout five subject areas. Particular focus is placed on how Israeli warfare has changed in the twenty-first century thanks to ISR systems, AI-powered decision-making, and cyber operations—tools that have had a big impact on battlefield results in Gaza, Lebanon, and other places. The ethical, legal, and strategic ramifications of these approaches are also examined in the article, especially in light of current humanitarian situations and changing global attitudes.