Yom Kippur War: Insights Into Operational Theory

In 1973, Israel found itself fighting its fifth major war against its Arab neighbors since achieving independence 25 years previously. This was a war in which both sides designed their military strategies within the framework of the political limitations set down by the two superpowers: the United States and the Soviet Union. As a result, both sides attempted to design campaigns in which key engagements set the conditions for a successful political solution. This paper begins with a broad overview of the conflict. It discusses three characteristics of the operational level of war: centers of gravity, culminating points, and the linkage of means and ends. It then analyzes how these characteristics significantly shaped the course of this war for both opponents. Finally, this study concludes that victory is only achieved by designing campaigns based on positive aims. For this war, the positive aim was defeating the opponent's source of strength.