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Military operations in urban areas

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  27 August 2010

Alexandre Vautravers
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Abstract

Armies have traditionally avoided cities and siege operations. Fighting for and in cities is costly, slow, and often inconclusive. But sometimes they are unavoidable, either because they are located on main road or rail junctions or because of their value as political and/or economic prizes. Urban expansion in both north and south has made cities today the main theatres of military and humanitarian operations.

Armies' structures, equipment, and doctrines are undergoing a process of adaptation. Manoeuvre has given way to fire power and protection for the troops as the decisive elements of military power. While heavy fire power does considerable damage and causes civilians to flee their homes, operations using protection techniques are only suitable for stabilization. Moreover, their success depends essentially on the willingness of troops to make sacrifices, and on support from the public.

Type
Urban violence
Information
International Review of the Red Cross , Volume 92 , Issue 878: Urban violence , June 2010 , pp. 437 - 452
Copyright
Copyright © International Committee of the Red Cross 2010

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References

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20 A. Vautravers, above note 10.

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23 A generation of vehicle has been designed, in 2003–2008, to be ‘mine-resistant, ambush-protected’ (MRAP). Ambushes refer to IEDs or short-range anti-tank grenade attacks.

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30 A. Vautravers, above note 10.

31 Groupements tactiques interarmes (GTIA).

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35 T. Struye de Swielande, above note 4, p. 135.

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