Which enabling operation provides friendly forces early warning of enemy operations?

The enabling operation that provides friendly forces with early warning of enemy operations is security operations. Security operations are designed to protect the main body of friendly forces by establishing a perimeter of awareness around them. This includes gaining information about potential enemy movements and intentions, allowing friendly forces to prepare for and respond to threats effectively.

Through security operations, units can perform various tasks such as screening, guarding, and reconnaissance that contribute to an understanding of the enemy's capabilities and plans. This proactive approach ensures that forces have the necessary situational awareness to make informed decisions and maintain operational readiness.

While reconnaissance operations also focus on gathering intelligence, their primary role is to obtain detailed information about enemy forces and terrain rather than providing early warning. Flanking operations refer to maneuvering troops to attack an enemy from the sides and are not focused on intelligence gathering. Support operations may assist in various ways but do not specifically address the need for early warning of enemy activities. Thus, security operations are essential for establishing an effective defense by alerting forces to possible enemy actions.