counterinsurgency

plural counterinsurgencies

1. countableuncountableAny political or military action taken to defeat insurgency, especially during guerrilla warfare.

   The United States will continue to pursue a military and civilian counterinsurgency strategy in Afghanistan.

   1 more example

   Mr. Petraeus almost single-handedly forced a profound evolution in the country’s military thinking and doctrine with his philosophy of counterinsurgency, focused more on protecting the civilian population than on killing enemies.

   2012 November 9, Michael D. Shear, “Petraeus Quits; Evidence of Affair Was Found by F.B.I.”, in New York Times

   Synonyms: COIN, antiinsurgency, pacification