Surgical air strikes refer to a military operation in which precision-guided aerial missiles or bombs are used to target specific enemy infrastructure, facilities, or military assets. The term "surgical" implies that these strikes are intended to be precise, accurate, and limited in their scope and impact, akin to a surgical procedure. Typically, surgical air strikes are employed to minimize collateral damage to civilian infrastructure and non-combatants, instead focusing on targeting key military assets or strategic locations.
These strikes are often conducted by advanced fighter jets, unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs), or cruise missiles, all equipped with sophisticated guidance systems that enable high precision and accuracy in hitting the intended target. The use of surgical air strikes is often favored when a military objective can be achieved without a prolonged engagement or ground offensive, thereby reducing potential risks to friendly forces.
The success of surgical air strikes depends on a comprehensive intelligence-gathering process to identify specific targets, assess their military value, and minimize the risk to allied forces and non-combatants. The attacks are meticulously planned and executed with advanced technology to ensure minimum collateral damage while maximizing the effectiveness of the strike.
Such strikes have notably been carried out in various conflicts across the world, including during the Gulf War, Kosovo War, and more recently in the ongoing conflicts in the Middle East. The term "surgical air strikes" emphasizes the precisely targeted nature of the operation, while distinguishing it from broader and more indiscriminate aerial bombardments.
