Counterinsurgency

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Counterinsurgency (COIN, or NATO spelling counter-insurgency^[1]) is "the totality of actions aimed at defeating irregular forces".^[2] The Oxford English Dictionary defines counterinsurgency as any "military or political action taken against the activities of guerrillas or revolutionaries"^[3] and can be considered war by a state against a non-state adversary.^[4] Insurgency and counterinsurgency campaigns have been waged since ancient history. Western thought on fighting 'small wars' gained interest during initial periods of European colonisation,^[5] with modern thinking on counterinsurgency was developed during decolonization.^[4]

During insurgency and counterinsurgency, the distinction between civilians and combatants is often blurred.^[6] Counterinsurgency may involve attempting to win the hearts and minds of populations supporting the insurgency.^[7][8] Alternatively, it may be waged in an attempt to intimidate^[4][9] or eliminate civilian populations suspected of loyalty to the insurgency through indiscriminate violence.^[4][10]