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Israel, NATO States Share Urban Warfare Insights
(JNS.org) Yaakov Lappin - Representatives from 12 NATO countries visited Israel on Nov. 5-8 for the first-of-its-kind conference on urban warfare and combat in populated areas. Israel has amassed significant experience in this area, experts say. "The IDF set up one of the most advanced facilities of its kind in the world at the Tzelim Ground Forces Training Center," said Dr. Eitan Shamir, former head of the National Security Doctrine Department in Israel's Strategic Affairs Ministry. He was referring to a mock Palestinian village used for Israeli military training. "American units and others have asked to come and train in it. I personally have heard senior American officers say they do not have a facility like the Israeli one, which was built after many lessons and experience." "A non-state actor fighting a guerrilla war from within an urban jungle, this is the type of enemy and challenge. The confrontation with radical Islam looks like it will continue, and in this context, the Arab-Muslim urban environment is highly relevant, and this is the natural environment in which the IDF acts.... NATO militaries have also gained experience in Afghanistan and Iraq, as well as in Africa and other places, so the IDF is also learning from their experiences."