Which task's purpose is to temporarily degrade enemy capabilities?

The correct response pertains to the task of suppressing enemy capabilities, which is aimed at temporarily degrading those capabilities to ensure operational effectiveness. Suppression involves targeting enemy forces and resources in a way that limits their ability to operate effectively, thereby creating opportunities for friendly forces to advance or achieve their objectives.

This tactic is particularly critical in military operations as it serves to reduce the immediate threats posed by the enemy, allowing for strategic maneuvers and the execution of further plans without the interference of opposing forces. By effectively suppressing the enemy, a unit can gain a significant tactical advantage.

In contrast, other tasks, while important for broader strategic operations, do not specifically focus on the temporary degradation of enemy capabilities in the same way. For example, screening provides information about enemy movements and protects the force, guarding encompasses protecting specific assets or areas without necessarily de facto degrading enemy capabilities, and the passage of lines focuses on enabling one unit to move through another's position effectively. Each of these tasks has distinct aims that differ from the objective of suppression.