Isolate Before an Urban Attack

Book excerpt: The U.S. will not always fight a cooperative enemy in urban operations. The Panamanian Defense Forces and Haitian military surrendered without significant fighting and bloodshed. Urban fighting against a more determined opponent, such as the clans of Somalia, resulted in significantly different outcome. This monograph asks if isolation of the enemy prior to offensive urban operations contributes to the disintegration of the enemy. Isolation is used to exploit critical vulnerabilities, especially soldier will and unit organization. Isolation is accomplished by, isolating the enemy from external and internal support; disrupting the enemy's command, control, communications, computers and intelligence (C4I); controlling key infrastructure; psychologically isolating the enemy from noncombatants; and controlling avenues of approach and key terrain. The Russian military's experiences fighting Chechen separatists in Grozny demonstrate the difficulties of defeating a determined enemy in urban operations. The monograph concludes that isolation causes the disintegration of the enemy, paving the way for the final defeat of a weakened enemy. Isolation reduces the defender's effectiveness because the defender cannot sustain its forces, exercise command and control, exploit key infrastructure, retain legitimacy with noncombatants, and control avenues of approach.