File:My_Tho,_Vietnam._A_Viet_Cong_base_camp_being._In_the_foreground_is_Private_First_Class_Raymond_Rumpa,_St_Paul,_Minnesota_-_NARA_-_530621_edit.jpg · Wikimedia Commons · See Wikimedia Commons
asymmetric warfare
Sign in to saveAlso known as asymmetric war, asymmetric engagement
war between belligerents whose relative military power differs significantly
~40 min read
Encyclopedic overview
A Viet Cong base camp being burned during the Vietnam War. An American private first class (PFC) stands by.
Asymmetric warfare (or asymmetric engagement) is a type of war between belligerents whose relative military power, strategy or tactics differ significantly. This type of warfare often involves insurgents, terrorist groups, or resistance militias operating within territory mostly controlled by the superior force.
Excerpted from Wikipedia’s “asymmetric warfare” article, available under the CC BY-SA 4.0 licence.