A freshly unveiled U.S. intelligence assessment has thrown light upon some hard-hitting facts regarding the Israel-Gaza conflict. By the looks of it, approximately 50% of the air-to-ground munitions that Israel has unleashed on Gaza since October 7th appear to be unguided, colloquially termed as 'dumb' bombs. Accountable sources reveal that nearly 45% of almost 30,000 unguided munitions merit a second, more in-depth look.
Dumb bombs versus smart bombs, the distinction does make a difference to the denizens of Gaza. Guided bombs are inherently precise in their trajectory, meaning collateral damage is calculable and can be minimized. However, with unguided bombs, the scenario is drastically different. The projected accuracy of an unguided bomb varies widely, leaving a greater potential for civilian casualties. Even with sophisticated techniques aiding their release from fighter jets, dumb bombs cannot replicate the precision of their guided counterparts.
When viewed through granular statistical lenses, the numbers present a grim picture. Nearly 40 to 45 percent of the 29,000 air-to-ground munitions used by Israel have been unguided. This set of data underscores the heavy reliance on dumb bombs, as they constitute a significant part of the warfare arsenal.
The political undercurrents that run deep in this disclosure cannot be overlooked. This unanticipated revelation potentially puts Israel under the scanner and could result in mounting pressure for strikes that are more calculated and less detrimental to civilian life. Despite the Israeli repeated premise of their war against Hamas and not the Gaza people, allegations of indiscriminate bombing and an alleged disregard for civilian casualties have begun to gather ground, primarily among those opposed to the war.
Reacting to the report, an Israeli spokesperson emphasized the nation's tireless endeavors to mitigate harm to Gaza's civilian population. Israel justified the use of different types of bombs, asserting their capability for acute precision, and declared their intentions not to target civilians. This information, critic or supportive at varying degrees, highlights the complexity and layers of international conflict from both ends of the spectrum.
