guerillas
Unconventional irregular combatants
Guerillas (also spelled guerrillas) are irregular fighters who use hit-and-run tactics, ambushes, and sabotage rather than conventional warfare.
The term typically describes small armed groups fighting against larger government or occupying forces: The guerillas operated from mountain hideouts.
Guerilla as an adjective describes this style of unconventional combat: guerilla warfare, guerilla tactics.
The word extends to any underdog strategy using surprise and agility: guerilla marketing, guerilla gardening.
Surprise strike from concealment
- hit-and-runLeaving after causing collision
- sabotageDeliberate disruption of operations
- raidsSudden armed attacks
- asymmetrical warfareCombat between unequal opponents
infiltration · harassment · booby traps · surprise attacks · scouting · intelligence · deception · camouflage
Those fighting established authority
- partisansStaunch factional supporters
- fightersThose who engage physically
- combatantsThose engaged in warfare
- irregularsUnofficial combatants or anomalies
revolutionaries · freedom fighters · paramilitaries · underground · cell · faction · mujahideen · FARC
Release from constraint
- uprisingOrganized resistance to power
- insurrectionViolent uprising against authority
- struggleLabored effort against resistance
- defianceOpen resistance to authority
opposition · civil war · occupation · anti-colonial · independence movement · freedom · self-determination · revolutionary movement
Dense tropical forest
- mountainsTall elevated landmasses
- forestTree-dense ecosystem
- ruralOf the countryside
- countrysideRural area beyond towns
hinterland · wilderness · caves · swamps · highlands · remote · rugged · inaccessible
ambush
Surprise strike from concealment
- hit-and-runLeaving after causing collision
- sabotageDeliberate disruption of operations
- raidsSudden armed attacks
asymmetrical warfare · infiltration · harassment · booby traps · surprise attacks · scouting · intelligence · deception · camouflage · stealth
insurgents
Those fighting established authority
- partisansStaunch factional supporters
- fightersThose who engage physically
- combatantsThose engaged in warfare
irregulars · revolutionaries · freedom fighters · paramilitaries · underground · cell · faction · mujahideen · FARC · Viet Cong
liberation
Release from constraint
- uprisingOrganized resistance to power
- insurrectionViolent uprising against authority
- struggleLabored effort against resistance
defiance · opposition · civil war · occupation · anti-colonial · independence movement · freedom · self-determination · revolutionary movement · popular uprising
jungle
Dense tropical forest
countryside · hinterland · wilderness · caves · swamps · highlands · remote · rugged · inaccessible · base camps
- January Uprisinginsurgents, insurgent forces, insurgent leaders, national government, partisans
guerillasregular army
Nation's permanent military force
conventional forces · standing army · regulars · armed forces · enlisted soldiers
- guerilla tacticsAsymmetric combat by mobile fighters
- guerilla warfareUnconventional combat by irregulars