Israel’s "Campaign Between the Wars" (CBW), known in Hebrew as Mabam, remains a central pillar of the nation’s security strategy despite regional tensions and ongoing diplomatic pressure. The doctrine involves targeted, clandestine military operations, cyberattacks, and airstrikes designed to degrade the capabilities of Iran and its regional proxies, specifically Hezbollah, without triggering a full-scale regional war.
The Origins and Logic of Mabam
The Israeli Defense Forces (IDF) officially codified the Mabam strategy in a 2015 document, though the practice evolved from earlier reprisal operations conducted in the 1950s and 1960s. According to the Council on Foreign Relations, the core logic of the doctrine is to maintain a qualitative military edge by proactively disrupting adversary weapon transfers and infrastructure.
Lt. Gen. Gadi Eisenkot, the former chief of the Israeli general staff and a primary architect of the strategy, described the approach in 2019 as a departure from the binary choice between peace and total war. By utilizing high-quality intelligence to strike targets below the threshold of significant retaliation, Israel aims to weaken Iranian-aligned forces before they can pose an immediate existential threat.
Operational Scope and Geographic Expansion
Initially focused on preventing the entrenchment of Hezbollah in Syria, the strategy expanded significantly over the last decade. The Carnegie Endowment for International Peace has noted that Israeli operations have targeted Iranian-linked facilities, missile warehouses, and weapons convoys across Syria, Iraq, and occasionally within Iran itself.
These operations have included:
- Airstrikes: Targeting precision-guided missile components and Iranian Revolutionary Guard personnel.
- Cyber Operations: Disrupting nuclear and military research facilities.
- Interdiction: Blocking weapons shipments intended for proxies in Lebanon and elsewhere.
While these actions have delayed the development of adversary capabilities, their long-term effectiveness remains a subject of debate. For instance, following a 2020 explosion at an Iranian centrifuge assembly facility—widely attributed to Israel—the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) reported that Iran successfully reconstituted its capabilities at more hardened, underground sites shortly thereafter.
Challenges for U.S.-Israel Relations
The continuity of the Mabam strategy presents a complex challenge for the United States, which seeks to avoid a broader conflict with Tehran. While Israel often coordinates its actions with U.S. Central Command, discrepancies in strategic priorities have occasionally strained the partnership.
According to reports from the Congressional Research Service, the U.S. has frequently urged restraint to prevent accidental escalation, particularly when Israeli strikes occur near areas where U.S. troops are stationed. Israeli officials maintain that the threat of a nuclear-armed Iran and the proliferation of precision-guided missiles in Lebanon are existential issues that require unilateral action regardless of diplomatic negotiations.
Future Outlook
As of early 2026, the Israeli security establishment continues to view the campaign as a necessary tool for national defense. Even as leadership debates the intensity of these operations, the fundamental premise—that proactive, limited strikes prevent larger, more costly wars—remains deeply embedded in Israeli military doctrine. The challenge for the coming years will be balancing these tactical objectives with the regional diplomatic goals of the United States and its Arab partners.
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