What type of IEDs are often used in urban combat environments?

Vehicle-borne IEDs (VBIEDs) are frequently utilized in urban combat environments due to their ability to cause significant destruction and target large crowds or critical infrastructure. The urban landscape often provides strategic advantages for the deployment of these devices, as they can easily blend in with everyday vehicles and navigate through congested areas, making detection more difficult for security forces.

VBIEDs can carry substantial amounts of explosives, which allows them to maximize their impact in densely populated areas, where the potential for casualties and disruption is high. Furthermore, their use can create chaos within the urban setting, complicating response efforts and overwhelming local security resources.

In contrast, other types of IEDs have different tactical advantages and limitations that may not align as well with the specific dynamics and challenges found in urban combat. For instance, handheld IEDs may lack the capacity for large-scale destruction, and while remote-controlled IEDs can be employed effectively, they require a certain operational environment that may not always be feasible in urban settings. Suicide IEDs, while also a serious concern in urban warfare, are generally more focused on individual targets rather than mass destruction afforded by VBIEDs.