Clausewitz's statement on friction that: “Everything is very simple in war, but the simplest thing is difficult” is doubly so at night. Nighttime makes even basic tasks, such as attacking in the right direction, that much more difficult and prone to failure. Such mistakes can result in costly delays and accidents that can derail the best-laid plans. Moreover, problems such as friendly fire are significantly more likely under such conditions. In short, military operations at night can easily go awry for the simplest of reasons, even when elite troops are involved.
In 2013, for example, the Unites States SEALs attempted a night raid in Somalia on the headquarters of the Islamic militant group Al-Shabaab. By chance, the American special forces unit was spotted while deploying for the assault by a sentry having a cigarette break outside the compound. This led to an hour-long firefight that eventually forced the outnumbered SEALs to withdraw. Historical campaigns are replete with similar examples of
