Which of the following describes the aim of suppressive fire?

Suppressive fire is aimed specifically at reducing the enemy's effectiveness in combat. This tactic involves applying firepower to diminish the enemy's ability to return effective fire, maneuver, or execute their missions, thereby providing a tactical advantage to friendly forces. By keeping enemy forces suppressed, the overall combat effectiveness of the opposing side is diminished, allowing friendly units the opportunity to advance, reposition, or initiate other combat operations without facing significant retaliation.

Maintaining communication among units, enhancing visibility for friendly forces, and gathering intelligence on enemy movements, while important components of a comprehensive military strategy, do not capture the direct objective of suppressive fire. The intent is not to facilitate communication or visibility but rather to neutralize or impair the enemy's operational capacity, illustrating why the focus on reducing combat effectiveness is the correct interpretation of suppressive fire's aim.