FACULTY OF DEFENCE STUDIESAND MANAGEMENT

STRATEGIC STUDIES

DUS 3022

SEMESTER II 2023/2024

1ZP64

LECT: MEJ JEN DATO DR. A. ENDRY NIXON (R)

TOPIC: HOW IRREGULAR WARFARE IS SEEN IN THE CURRENT ERA AND

NO. NAME MATRIX NO..

1. Kabilan A/L Viswanathan 2230661

2. Muammar Ayriil Aidid bin Musa 2230666

3. Earoll Afian Epin 2230657

4. Pkdt Muhammad Iqbal bin Rosli 2230674

5. Pkdt Mohamad Zuhairi bin Parlamin 2230664

6. Nurul Faiqah Hani binti Abd Latib 2230687

7. Ainin Qistina binti Nor Ilham 2230651

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TABLE OF CONTENT

N INDEX PAGES
O

1 INTRODUCTION 2-3

2 STRUGGLES SMONG STATE AND NON-STATE 4-5

3 IRREGULAR WARFARE AMONG PEOPLE 6-7

4 HOW IRREGULAR WARFARE IS SEEN IN THE 8

5 CONCLUSIONS 9

6 REFERENCES 10

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INTRODUCTION

Irregular warfare is a complicated and distinct type of conflict, to further military,

political, or economic objectives. In contrast to conventional warfare, which makes use of sizable

armies and clearly demarcated combat lines, irregular warfare includes guerilla warfare,

insurgency, counterinsurgency, and terrorism. By employing small, pliable troops for ambushes,

hit-and-run assaults, and sabotage, these strategies lessen their own losses while frightening the

opposition.

Irregular warfare is frequently carried out by non-state actors such as insurgents,

guerrillas, militias, and terrorists. Because they blend in with the broader population, they are

difficult to identify and eradicate. In this kind of warfare, psychological operations are essential

to weakening the opposition and advancing the rebel cause. Propaganda, information warfare,

and other techniques for influencing the local population are some of these tactics.

Unconventional strategies like cyberattacks, sabotage, and subversion are also employed

in irregular warfare to interfere with the enemy's operations and infrastructure. Because these

tactics are designed to be very effective with minimal resources, it is more difficult for the

adversary to mount a strong resistance. Gaining the support of the local populace is crucial.

Usually, threats and intimidation are used to do this, as well as opportunities for economic

growth, social benefits, and security that the government is unable to provide.

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 Ideological and political goals are the main driving forces behind irregular warfare, as

opposed to conventional combat, which is focused on territory or resources. Rebellions aim to

overthrow governments, resist authority, and drive out occupying forces. The complex linkages

between social, cultural, and political aspects make it difficult to implement straightforward

military solutions, since the interactions between irregular troops and civilians frequently

influence the outcome of conflicts.

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STRUGGLES AMONG STATE AND NON-STATE

One of the examples I can give is the Syrian Civil War, which happened in 2011 during

the presidentship of Bashar Al-Assad. This war involves many kinds of non-state and state actor

in terms of involving in Syrian Civil War. The Syrian which heavily support by Russian and Iran,

which them are involve fighting Free Syrian Army, Islamic Terrorist and Kurdish Nationalist

Militia. ISIS are also involved in this conflict, they have been using tactics such as urban

warfare, suicide bombings, and guerrilla warfare aims to destabilize government territory.

Naturally irregular warfare causes massive destruction of military and civilian infrastructure and

of course this matter become much worser when the foreign mercenary also calls as Private

Military Constructors (PMC) involves.

Secondly, is the Iraq War which began in 2003 aims to topple Saddam Hussein out of

power, quickly this war are turning into irregular warfare. After the US victory to topple Saddam,

this still continue fighting when Baathist loyalists, Sunni rebels, Shia militias, and extremist

groups such as Al-Qaeda are fighting between each other. To destabilize the new Iraqi

government back by US, all types are irregular warfare are in use to install their new favor leader

and government. During the battle, sectarian violence occurred, with militias carrying out brutal

attacks on opposing ethnic and religious groups, generating widespread chaos and instability.

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 Lastly is the battle in Afghanistan, this battle began when US President George Bush

launch an attack on Afghani soil for the revenge on what happen in 9/11. The Taliban have use

mostly unconventional warfare to attack the US military. Supposedly US intended to dispose to

topple the Taliban government and install their new back Afghanistan government to disrupt the

expanding influence on Al-Qaeda. The Taliban have use tactics such as hit-and-run and use of the

improvise explosive devices (IED). The Taliban, backed by other rebel groups and motivated by

regional disputes, used Afghanistan’s mountainous terrain to wage a bloody war against US-

forces and the Afghan government.

Furthermore, the conflict become much worse when the neighbors country such as Iran,

Russia and Pakistan dwell in it. They all have their national interest and agenda on afghani’s soil.

To make the even worse the newly Afghanistan government are burden by corruption and

instability from internal. They also struggle to establish their legitimacy over afghani people. .

Despite counterinsurgency and nation building efforts, the conflict keeps happening,

demonstrating the challenges of dealing with irregular threats in a complex a environment like as

Afghanistan

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IRREGULAR WARFARE AMONG PEOPLE

Irregular warfare among the people usually involves prioritizing the acquisition of legitimacy,

support, and influence with civilians over defeating a conventional military adversary. This idea

indirectly highlights the importance of the populations in the conflict and the mix of fighters and

civilians, distinguishing it from traditional warfare. Irregular warfare (IW) that involves the

population is defined by various unique components that revolve around the crucial role of

civilians in the conflict.

The backing or resistance of the civilian population is the key to the center of gravity, with

winning over hearts and minds being just as important than winning the battles. For examples,

the U.S counterinsurgency strategy in Afghanistan focused on building schools, hospitals, and

infrastructure to gain local support and undermine Taliban influence. During these types of

conflicts, it is common for the distinction between soldiers and civilians to become unclear, as

combatants often blend in with the civilian population, making it difficult for traditional military

forces to differentiate between those involved in fighting and those who are not. This results in a

difficult setting where guerrilla tactics and insurgency thrive which mean irregular groups

employ hit and run tactics, ambushes, sabotage, and other types of asymmetric warfare to take

advantage of the weaknesses of stronger traditional forces.

Both sides actually heavily rely on on propaganda and information operations to sway public

opinion, gain followers, and discredit their opponent using a range of media platforms such as

social media, news source, and local networks. Psychological warfare is also crucial, with the

goal of weakening the enemy’s morale, interfering with their decision making abilities, and

influencing the population with fear, false information, and psychological tactics.

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 Moreover, irregular forces often utilize economic and social disruption as a strategy to target

infrastructure, disrupt daily activities, and cause economic difficulties in order to undermine their

opponent’s power and credibility. The complexity and diverse nature of irregular warfare is

highlighted by these tactics, showing that success in irregular warfare is not just about military

wins but also about the ability to sway and govern civilian populations. This makes irregular

warfare a distinctive and difficult type of conflict that demands thorough and flexible tactics.

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HOW IRREGULAR WARFARE IS SEEN IN THE CURRENT ERA

The tactics and strategies used in irregular warfare have changed and remained the same

in both ancient and modern times. The fundamental concepts remain the same, but due to

advancements in globalisation, technology, and international politics, their applications have

undergone significant transformations. Guerrilla warfare was a traditional irregular warfare

tactic. More powerful armies would be attacked and retreated from by small, mobile forces. In

order to cut off the enemy's supplies and communication, they also employed sabotage and

ambushes. Demotivating adversaries was the intention of major figure assassinations.

Hybrid tactics, which combine conventional military techniques with unconventional

ones like cyberwarfare and information operations, are used in modern irregular warfare. Today,

terrorist attacks on civilian targets are more frequent, with the aim of spreading fear and

advancing political objectives. Another contemporary strategy that seeks to change perceptions,

destroy essential infrastructure, and steal and distribute data is the cyberattack.

The Taliban's invasion of Afghanistan in 2021, which saw them defeat NATO soldiers by

psychological warfare, roadside bombings, and guerilla warfare, is one instance of contemporary

irregular warfare. The digital side of contemporary irregular warfare was demonstrated by ISIS

(Islamic State), which used terrorism, insurgency, and conventional warfare to seize control of

areas in Syria and Iraq. Social media was also used by ISIS for recruiting and propaganda. Since

2014, Russia has been waging hybrid warfare in Ukraine through the use of irregular armies,

cyberattacks, disinformation operations, and economic pressure. Regular and illicit tactics have

been used in both the invasion of Crimea and the ongoing conflict in Eastern Ukraine.

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CONCLUSIONS

In conclusion, contemporary irregular warfare is distinguished by its emphasis on

population control and legality above traditional military tactics. One of the best examples of

how irregular warfare is combined with guerilla tactics, media operations, and civilian-centered

strategies is the Syrian Civil War.

Furthermore, to address this type of conflict and establish enduring peace and stability,

comprehensive solutions involving military, political, economic, and social measures are

required. This kind of warfare, frequently referred to as "war among people," uses strategies like

guerilla warfare, terrorism, and insurgency and mostly depends on winning the authority and

support of the civilian populace. Information operations, psychological warfare, and economic

and social disruption are commonly employed to influence public perception and undermine the

opponent’s authority.

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REFERENCES

1) Beccaro, A. (2018). Modern Irregular Warfare: The ISIS case Study. Small Wars &

insurgies, 29 (2), 207–228. https://doi.org/10.1080/09592318.2018.1433469.

2) Kenneth, C. (2009). Irregular Warfare is Warfare. Defence Technical Information Center.

https://apps.dtic.mil/sti/citations/ADA515615.

3) Sebastian, L. (2020). The Age of Irregular Warfare: So What?. Defence Technical

4) Information Center. https://apps.dtic.mil/sti/citations/tr/ADA528133

5) William, B. (2012). Defense Technical Information Center.

6) https://apps.dtic.mil/sti/citations/ADA592709

7) Gray, S. C., Witrz, J. J. & Baylis, J. (2019). Strategy in The Contemporary World. Oxford

University Press. 183-201.

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