Legal Definitions - guerrilla warfare

Guerrilla warfare is a type of warfare where individuals or small groups fight using surprise attacks, ambushes, and sabotage. They are usually not part of an organized army. This type of warfare is carried out when geographical conditions are favorable and when the civilian population is at least partly cooperative.

• The Viet Cong in Vietnam used guerrilla warfare tactics against the United States during the Vietnam War.
• The Taliban in Afghanistan use guerrilla warfare tactics against the Afghan government and foreign forces.
• The American colonists used guerrilla warfare tactics against the British during the American Revolution.

These examples illustrate how guerrilla warfare is used in different conflicts throughout history. In each case, the guerrilla fighters were able to use their knowledge of the terrain and the support of the local population to their advantage. They were able to inflict damage on their opponents while minimizing their own losses.