Accession Number:

ADA564040

Title:

Israeli Operational Art: The Six Day War -- How the Israeli Defense Forces Achieved Overwhelming Success Against Overwhelming Odds

Descriptive Note:

Research paper

Corporate Author:

NAVAL WAR COLL NEWPORT RI JOINT MILITARY OPERATIONS DEPT

Personal Author(s):

• Obadal, Mike

Report Date:

2012-05-04

Pagination or Media Count:

22.0

Abstract:

Outnumbered almost 3 to 1, fighting on three fronts, the Israeli Defense Forces IDF handed its Arab adversaries a significant defeat from 5 to 11 June, 1967. The resulting destruction of Arab militaries and Israeli control of significant terrain provided Israel valuable strategic depth in the following years. In the course of the one-sided war, the IDF demonstrated superior tactics while Arab forces suffered for lack of competent leadership. However, the main reason for such a quick victory was the development of superior operational plans. The IDF expertly balanced the operational factors of time, space, and force to attack the Arab center of gravity and achieve specific operational objectives, all of which contributed to the national goal to ensure the survival of Israel.

Descriptors:

• *ARABS
• *ATTACK
• *CENTER OF GRAVITY
• *ISRAEL
• *MILITARY PLANNING
• *OPERATIONAL READINESS
• *WARFARE
• AIR STRIKES
• EGYPT
• JORDAN
• LEADERSHIP
• MILITARY DOCTRINE
• MILITARY FORCES(FOREIGN)
• MILITARY HISTORY
• MILITARY MODERNIZATION
• MILITARY TACTICS
• MILITARY TRAINING
• SYRIA
• UNITED NATIONS
• USSR

Subject Categories:

• Humanities and History
• Military Operations, Strategy and Tactics

Distribution Statement:

APPROVED FOR PUBLIC RELEASE