What is the primary goal of offense in infantry operations?

The primary goal of offense in infantry operations is to control terrain and destroy enemy forces. This is essential because seizing and maintaining control over key terrain affects the battlefield dynamics significantly, offering advantages such as visibility, maneuverability, and resource access. Additionally, by destroying enemy forces, an offensive operation diminishes the enemy's capability to respond, ensuring that friendly forces can operate more freely and effectively.

In the context of military strategy, offensive operations aim to disrupt the enemy's plans and establish dominance, paving the way for achieving broader operational objectives. Control of terrain can enable a force to execute further offensive actions, establish defensive positions when needed, and create a psychological impact on the enemy, reducing their morale.

While the other choices reflect important components of military operations, they focus more on defense and protection rather than the proactive goal of offense, which is geared toward gaining terrain advantage and neutralizing the enemy's combat effectiveness. This distinction is crucial for understanding the overarching strategy in infantry operations.