Sword and Shield of Zion: The Israel Air Force in the Arab-Israeli Conflict, 1948-2012

The Israel Air Force (IAF) has accumulated as much battle experience as any air force in the world during the post-Second World War era. It has recorded many outstanding accomplishments throughout a seemingly endless string of interstate wars, asymmetrical wars, counterinsurgency campaigns, and special operations. Sword and Shield of Zion examines the IAF's experience in the Arab-Israeli conflict, from the establishment of Israel in 1948 to the present day. The book analyzes this experience through the prisms of maneuver warfare, attrition warfare, counterinsurgency warfare, special operations, and humanitarian operations. It reviews the IAF's performance in such wars as the 1967 Six-Day War, the 1969-70 War of Attrition, the 1973 Yom Kippur War, the 2006 Second Lebanon War, and the 2008-09 Gaza War. Also, the book scrutinizes the IAF's participation in major counterinsurgency campaigns and special operations, traces its experience with unmanned aerial vehicles - which have occupied a very prominent place in air operations since the 1982 Lebanon War - and chronicles its experience with anti-aircraft defenses and satellites. Up-to-date information on the IAF's bases, squadrons, and other infrastructure is provided as well. Sword and Shield of Zion is based on personal visits to the IAF over the past few years, during which the author had the opportunity to tour bases, listen to lectures and briefings, and speak with numerous retired, reserve, and active duty officers.