Watch the video: Major General Hofbauer assesses the situation before Israel’s ground offensive.
The Israeli army has postponed the start of the ground offensive. But daily air strikes on positions of Hamas terrorists, Hezbollah in Lebanon and militias in Syria show how the military situation is currently heading towards escalation. Major General Bruno Hofbauer of the Austrian Armed Forces has often provided us with clarification on the confusing front in the Ukraine War. That’s why we’re talking to the former commander of a Panzergrenadier battalion and head of the policy department in the Ministry of Defense today about the military situation for . From multi-front threats to fighting Hamas in the tunnel system in the Gaza Strip.
The military situation between Israel and Hamas
Hofbauer says: The war in Israel is completely different than in Ukraine. The Israeli territory is much smaller, and the fight is not against another state, but against a terrorist group. In Israel, fighting takes place primarily in urban areas. He expects that this will also lead to high losses on the Israeli side.
Because of the branched tunnel systems in the Strip, Israel has provided special operations forces. “This is a very high risk because you don’t know from above how the tunnel system is actually designed and how the defensive measures inside are prepared.” Hofbauer suspects that the Israelis do not have 100 percent knowledge of the tunnel system. “This will require a long-term operation.” First you have to take possession of the area above the tunnels and then clarify where the tunnel entrances and exits are and what exactly they are used for. It is then the army’s job to check whether you really have to go in or whether you can bring it down from the outside. The biggest challenge in the offensive, however, is that Hamas has merged with the civilian population. It is very difficult to distinguish who is the enemy, who is neutral and who belongs to a fighting unit. “This certainly cannot be compared with what our Western armies experience in stabilization operations, for example. Rather, this is an escalation level even higher,” said Hofbauer. The Hamas fighters may be one floor above a kindergarten or a normal apartment. The terrorist organization uses this for itself. One must therefore also expect collateral damage to the civilian population. Israel is currently trying to prevent a conflagration by using military force on its borders. The US presence in the region is intended to suggest to other states not to intervene. If the war were to spread to neighboring countries, the Israeli army would be strong enough to wage a multi-front war. They have over 300,000 soldiers and Israel is generally prepared for such things. But Hofbauer also sees no conventional means of Israel being attacked by neighboring states. It is more limited to a war against terrorist organizations.
Nele Balgo speaks with Major General Bruno Hofbauer from the Austrian, Head of the Policy Department in the Ministry of Defense.
Source: Stern
I have been working in the news industry for over 6 years, first as a reporter and now as an editor. I have covered politics extensively, and my work has appeared in major newspapers and online news outlets around the world. In addition to my writing, I also contribute regularly to 24 Hours World.
