Amphibious threats can fix defenders without landing

An amphibious demonstration can force an opponent to guard threatened coastlines without putting troops ashore. The possibility of a landing force waiting over the horizon may be enough to keep defending formations tied to beaches and ports. D-Day planning drew on this long-standing practice. During the First Gulf War, amphibious ships offshore kept Iraqi forces concerned about where the Marines might land. The unanswered threat created the operational effect without an actual beach assault.