Which principle of war emphasizes the importance of surprise in operations?

The principle of war that emphasizes the importance of surprise in operations is centered around the idea that achieving unexpected moves can provide a significant advantage over an adversary. Surprise can disrupt the enemy's plans, degrade their morale, and lead to quick victories. By effectively utilizing surprise, a force can create openings for exploitation that would not exist if the enemy were well-prepared or aware of the actions being taken.

Operational success often hinges on the ability to strike when and where the opponent is least expecting it. This unpredictability can force an adversary to respond reactively rather than proactively, allowing the force that employs surprise to dictate the tempo and direction of the engagement.

In contrast, other principles such as mass, which involves concentrating combat power at the decisive point, unity of command, which focuses on the control and coordination of forces under a single commander, and offensive operations, which underscore the initiative and the intent to seize, retain, and exploit the initiative, do not directly address the concept of surprise.