What is the primary purpose of conducting an ambush patrol?

The primary purpose of conducting an ambush patrol is to capture or kill enemy fighters. This tactic is utilized to engage the enemy unexpectedly, exploiting their vulnerabilities and achieving a strategic advantage. In an ambush, the objective is to inflict maximum damage on the enemy personnel before they are able to react or defend themselves. This can serve multiple objectives, such as weakening the enemy's fighting capability, damaging morale, and gaining valuable intelligence from captured personnel.

In contrast, while gathering intelligence, disrupting enemy supply lines, and establishing control over an area may be elements of a broader operational plan, they are not the main focus of an ambush patrol. Instead, those actions often require different strategies and methods that do not center primarily on direct confrontation with enemy fighters in a surprise attack scenario. Therefore, focusing on the elimination or incapacitation of enemy combatants defines the ambush patrol's primary operational goal.