Geography is the “hidden enemy” and the most important strategic asset in guerrilla warfare; it gives the militarily weaker party the ability to balance the power against technologically and firepower-efficient regular armies. The key question here is: how does geography shape the course of these wars, which rely on flexibility and adaptation?
There are certain types of geographical environments that favor resistance operations, where terrain hinders the movement of heavy vehicles and limits aerial visibility, such as rugged mountains that provide natural strongholds, caves for hiding, and narrow passes that allow for ambushes (as in Afghanistan and southern Lebanon).
Dense forests provide an excellent environment for concealment and protection from radar and aerial reconnaissance systems, and allow for close and surprise movements (as in Vietnam and southern Lebanon).
Unlike conventional warfare, guerrilla warfare is not concerned with holding a specific geographical location. The principle is: “Land that cannot be defended is abandoned; what matters is preserving manpower” to launch a counterattack at another time and place.
In general, geography in this type of warfare is not merely a battleground, but a defensive and offensive weapon that transforms the enemy’s technological superiority into a heavy burden.
The golden rule applied by the resistance in Operation Protective Edge and others (Ouli al-Ba’s – July War 2006…) is: “The fighter is more important than the land.” Based on this principle, the resistance leadership determines when holding territory is a useful element for military operations, and when holding it would be suicidal.
There are exceptional circumstances where geography becomes sacred:
- Safe havens (rear bases): Extremely rugged areas (mountains, dense forests) used for training, field hospitals, and weapons depots. Their fall means the collapse of the resistance.
- Vital supply routes: If the land is the only way to get weapons or food, losing it means death by starvation or a lack of ammunition.
- Populated areas (popular support): Sometimes fighters are forced to hold onto a neighborhood or village to protect the civilians who support them, because losing the “popular support” means losing “information and supplies.”
In modern warfare (such as Vietnam, Gaza, or Lebanon), “land” has transformed from a flat surface into a three-dimensional geography. Holding onto tunnels allows fighters to remain “on the ground” without being seen by the enemy, reducing the effectiveness of air power and forcing the enemy into close-quarters combat, which is preferred by the resistance.
Why does this tactic work?
- Frustrating the enemy: The regular army feels like a failure because it “controls the territory” but cannot “eliminate the enemy.”
- Conserving ammunition and manpower: Direct confrontation is very costly for small groups.
- The element of surprise: The initiative remains with the “guerrillas,” who choose the time and place of the next engagement.
Source: Union Center for Researches and Development (Edited and Translated by Al-Manar English Website)