A few years ago, there was a group of US Navy SEALs in Afghanistan that was faced with a platoon-sized force of Taliban fighters sleeping inside a cave in the mountains.
The SEALs decided not to shoot the Taliban. Instead, they went in there with their knives. I learned this story from a journalist friend who had spoken to a Swedish soldier whose unit had been attached to the SEALs. The poor Swede was still traumatized by the incident.
US Navy SEALs in Afghanistan. (Photo: discover military)
Of course, you can also shoot the enemy in their sleep, however, you should be aware of the following things:
- Your bullets might ricochet off the cave’s walls and hurt someone from your own people.
- They won’t sleep anymore after the first rounds are fired. It will be messy and chaotic.
- It also will be terribly loud, so you better wear some good hearing protection.
Alternatively, you can use any other weapon you want. Flame throwers are ideal for this scenario and so are guided anti-tank missiles (they are quite expensive, though).
If you worry that you are committing a war crime, rest assured, you don’t. Your enemy doesn’t lose their combatant status just because they went to sleep.