Question about Sauron's army during the War of the Elves

[Huinesoron]

Sauron had also been to Ost-in-Edhil. He knew the ways in and out. Given how much the Gwaith-i-Mírdain liked "Annatar", it's entirely possible he helped design their defences.

I actually don't think he would have had to work too hard, either. The name "Ost-in-Edhil", 'Fortress of the Elves', plus the general Noldorin practice seen in Beleriand, suggests Celebrimbor probably abandoned the countryside and forted up in the city. That's great, it's a wonderful city - except that it sat between two rivers, and Sauron had an army perfectly capable of damming said rivers. (Sure, he'd probably lose a few Orcs, that's dangerous work - but so what?)

Depending on how he did it, mucking with the rivers would either remove a vital component of the city's defence, starve (thirst?) it out - or, if the dam is downstream, flood it. He could even build an upstream dam and then break it, to throw a cataclysmic flash flood at the city walls.

None of which would be possible for someone who cared about their soldiers, which is why Celebrimbor didn't plan for it. Or, well, maybe he did - but that plan was the Ring of Water, and he'd sent that off with Galadriel. Whoops!

(Honestly, though, it still seems to have done better than the last island-fortress Sauron conquered; he took Tol Sirion without the defenders even standing and fighting!)

hS