Israeli Air Force: Bombing Gaza or Pinpoint Strikes?

Posted on March 11, 2012

In the past few days the Israeli Air Force has struck in Gaza several times, in a back-and-forth exchange which started this Friday. (Read more.) You’ve probably heard reports about the IAF bombing civilian buildings or killing innocents. On the other hand, other sources claim the strikes targeted terrorists only.

So which is true?

Here’s a fact: The IDF’s civilian-to-terrorist death ratio is the lowest in the world. The former Commander of the British Armed Forces in Afghanistan, Col. Richard Kemp, went on record as saying:

“The UN estimate that there has been an average three-to-one ratio of civilian to combatant deaths in such conflicts worldwide. Three civilians for every combatant killed.

That is the estimated ratio in Afghanistan: three to one. In Iraq, and in Kosovo, it was worse: the ratio is believed to be four-to-one. Anecdotal evidence suggests the ratios were very much higher in Chechnya and Serbia.

In Gaza, it was less than one-to-one.”

Further sources, which remain accurate since 2008, confirm:

From a 1:1 ratio between killed terrorists and civilians in 2003 to a 1:28 ratio in late 2005. Several IAF mishaps in 2006 lowered the ratio to 1:10, but the current ratio is at its lowest ever–more than 1:30.

So for every dead civilian, 30 terrorists are killed. And yet, the sad fact is, Israeli Air Force strikes sometimes result in civilian casualties. This is a result of the human shield tactic, a method adopted by Hamas and other terror organizations in the Gaza Strip. Basically, terrorists hide within houses, schools, mosques and other “harmless” environments, and use them as a cover from which to shoot rockets. (Read more about the terror tactics used in Gaza.)

The IDF tries to minimize civilian casualties anyway. How?

1. “Pinpoint targeting” – A phrase you’ll hear a lot in the Israeli Air Force. It means singling out terrorists and targeting them in a way which won’t endanger bystanders. This can often be hard to do, since terrorists prefer to hide in crowded areas. IAF pilots can even single out one target from an entire residential complex.

Example: The terrorist squad targeted on Friday–the team planning a terror attack from Sinai–was struck while driving a car, and despite being in a thronging neighborhood, only the two terrorists were hit.

The vehicle in which the the PRC terrorist squad was targeted on Friday

2. Aborted strikes - The IAF won’t shoot at any cost. Only when the terrorists are in the act of firing their rockets, and when the chance of harming bystanders is minimal, can an IAF pilot strike. Many times strikes have been aborted at the last minute due to last-minute interference, such as civilians coming too close.

Example: View an IAF strike aborted at the last minute:

3. Advanced technology - The IAF uses advanced technology to upgrade its targeting capabilities and make sure its strikes are as precise as possible. Enormous efforts have gone into making sure the weapons and aircraft will be able to complete the job without harming civilians.

Example: Read more about the F-16I ‘Sufa’ and the Delilah missile, both technologies used in pinpoint strikes. An excerpt to give you a better idea:

Let’s say Delilah is approaching a target and in the last moment the navigator sees… that there are civilians in the target zone. All he needs to do is push a button and Delilah aborts its attack, returns to the air and keeps loitering in the target zone until it receives new instructions.

Bottom line: ‘Pinpoint strikes’ is more than just a phrase. For now, the IDF’s civilian-to-combatant death ratio remains the lowest in the world.

Dal sito del Ministero degli Affari Esteri Israeliani

Israel under fire - March 2012 11 Mar 2012 More than 130 rockets fired from the Gaza Strip at major population centers in southern Israel in the last two days. Israeli Police at scene of a rocket explosion in southern Israel (Photo: IDF Spokesperson)

PM Netanyahu: "We will continue to hit whoever plans to attack citizens of the State of Israel. At the same time, we will continue to improve home front defense including by means of additional Iron Dome systems, the effectiveness of which was shown again over the weekend." PM Netanyahu to Cabinet on situation in south: "Last Friday, an arch-terrorist who organized many attacks against the State of Israel was eliminated." IDF Spokesperson More than 130 rockets have been fired from the Gaza Strip at major population centers in southern Israel in the last two days. On Friday, March 9, four people were wounded, one severely. On March 10, a mare was killed and a home near Ashdod was damaged by a direct rocket hit. In light of the ongoing rocket attacks, schools in many cities and towns in southern Israel are closed on Sunday, March 11. Areas targeted include Ashdod, Be'ersheba, Yavne, Netivot and Ashkelon, as well as the Eshkol and Shaar Hanegev regional councils. The Iron Dome system intercepted about 90% of the rockets fired at Be'ersheba, Ashdod and Ashkelon. The terrorist squads are launching their rockets from densely populated areas in the Gaza Strip, including Bet Lahiya, Jabaliya, Rafah, Gaza, and El-Bureij. Despite the rocket barrage, the Erez Crossing into Gaza is open for passengers and employees of international organizations. Kerem Shalom is open for the delivery of 200 truckloads from Israel into Gaza. On Friday, March 9, In a combined IDF-ISA operation, IAF aircraft targeted two members of the Popular Resistance Committee terror organization in the Gaza Strip - a senior operative, Zuhir Mussah Ahmed Kaisi, and a collaborator, Mahmud Ahmed Mahmud Hananni. The squad was responsible for planning a combined terror attack that was to take place via the Sinai Peninsula and the Israel-Egypt border in the coming days. A direct hit was confirmed. In light of situation assessments and security considerations, and following the targeting of the terror squad involved in the planning of a combined terror attack on the Israel-Egypt border, route 12 has been closed for traffic. Zuhir Kaisi, born in 1963, from Gaza City, was the head of the Popular Resistance Committee terror organization and was also its political commander. Kaisi was among the leaders who planned, funded, and directed the combined terror attack that took place on Route 12 in August 2011, in which 40 people were wounded. Kaisi was also involved in rocket fire at Israel, as well as in the attack on the Nahal Oz fuel terminal in April 2008, in which two Israeli citizens were killed. In addition, Kaisi was in charge of transferring funds from Hizbullah to terror organizations in the Gaza Strip. Following the strike, terrorist organizations in the Gaza Strip launched a rocket and mortar barrage directly targeting Israeli civilians. The barrage is currently ongoing. On Friday night, IAF aircraft targeted two weapon manufactoring facilities and two rocker launching sites in the nothern Gaza Strip, a weapon manufactoring sites in the central Gaza Strip and a terror activity sites in the southern Gaza Strip. The targeting was in direct response to the rockets fired at Israeli southern communities. In addition IAF aircraft targeted a terrorist in the central Gaza Strip and six addtional terrorist squads who were in the final stages of preparing to fire rockets at Israel from separate locations in the nothern and central Gaza Stirp. On March 10, in response of the ongoing rocket fire at Israel, IAF aircraft targeted two terror activity sites in the northern and southern Gaza Strip, and a weapon storage facility in the northern Gaza Strip. On Sunday morning (March 11), IAF aircraft targeted a terrorist at a rocket launching site in the northern Gaza Strip from which two rockets were fired at the city of Ashdod a short time beforehand, and later targeted a terrorist, moments before he was to fire a Grad rocket at the city of Ashdod.

Summary of Overnight Events

Posted on March 11, 2012

Overnight, IAF aircraft targeted a terrorist squad that was in the final stages of preparing to fire rockets at Israel from the northern Gaza Strip.

In addition, a short while ago, IAF aircraft targeted two rocket launching sites, in the northern Gaza Strip, used by terror organizations to fire medium-range rockets into Israel (over 40 kilometers).

Direct hits were identified.

The IDF is prepared to defend the residents of Israel and will respond with strength and determination against any attempt to execute terrorist attacks. Hamas uses other terror organizations to carry out terror attacks against the State of Israel and will bear the consequences of these actions in any future operation embarked upon by the IDF in order to eliminate the terror threat and restore the relative calm to the area.

For real time information follow @idfspokesperson on Twitter, or subscribe to the IDF Facebook page.

All new information can be found in the updating post: Israel Under Fire: More Than 130 Rockets Fired From Gaza at Israel

Correct behavior during rocket and mortar attacks

Correct behavior in the face of daily threats saves lives! Table of contents How to recognize an event?How to prepare your home and family.The threatHow to behave during an event? How to recognize an event? When you hear an alert siren, a sound of an explosion or a “Tzeva Adom” warning. Back to the top How to prepare your home and family. Due to the short warning time, it is important to establish in advance where you are going to take shelter during a rocket attack. As the first priority, choose a MAMAD (apartment protected space) or a private bomb shelter. If no MAMAD or private shelter are available, choose a protected room which complies with the Home Front Command guidelines. Make sure all members of the household are familiar with your chosen protected space. It is important to select a protected space at any location you spend time in, to perform family preparations and to prepare an emergency bag. The protected space must be equipped according to the guidelines. Back to the top The threat The main threat against the Israeli home front is from rocket and mortar attacks. On the eve of the Gulf War, many countries discovered that the war has expanded from the front lines to the civilian rear. The IDF Home Front Command have developed guidelines for the residents’ behavior upon hearing the sound of an alarm or an explosion. Compliance with these instructions will significantly reduce any damage that may be caused by a rocket or mortar attack against the Israeli home front. Back to the top How to behave during an event? If you are indoors: Enter the MAMAD immediately and close the steel window shutter. In the absence of a MAMAD: Enter the room farthest from the direction of the threat, with the smallest possible number of outside walls, windows and openings; Close the door and the windows; Sit on the floor (below the windowsill level) and lean against an interior wall. Do not sit in front of windows; Upper story residents in a building with no MAMAD, are required to exit to the staircase and descend one floor down. A protected room can be a staircase or a corridor (provided they comply with the above conditions more than other rooms in the house). If you are outdoors: In a built-up area – enter the nearest building and act according to the instructions for persons taking shelter indoors; In an exposed area – lie on the ground face-down and cover your head with your hands. If you are traveling: Stop by the side of the road, leave the vehicle and enter the nearest structure or cover. If you are unable to reach a structure or shelter within the given period of time, lie on the ground face-down and cover your head with your hands. If neither of the above instructions can be complied with, pull over and remain inside the vehicle for the next 10 minutes. Following the event: After 10 minutes, you may leave the protected area, unless another otherwise instructed. Stay clear of unidentified objects. Should you see a rocket lying on the ground, prevent gathering of bystanders and inform the security forces.