A Brief Overview of Insurgency

Introduction An insurgency is a violent, armed rebellion against authority waged by small, lightly armed bands who practice guerrilla warfare from primarily rural base areas. The key descriptive feature of insurgency is its asymmetric nature: small irregular forces face a large, well-equipped, regular military force state adversary. Due to this asymmetry, insurgents avoid large-scale direct… Read More

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What was the Thousand Days’ War (1899-1902)?

Introduction The Thousand Days’ War (Spanish: Guerra de los Mil Días) was a civil war fought in Colombia from 17 October 1899 to 21 November 1902, at first between the Liberal Party and the government led by the National Party, and later – after the Conservative Party had ousted the National Party – between the… Read More

What was Operation Barras (2000)?

Introduction Operation Barras was a British Army operation that took place in Sierra Leone on 10 September 2000, during the late stages of the nation’s civil war. The operation aimed to release five British soldiers of the Royal Irish Regiment and their Sierra Leone Army (SLA) liaison officer, who were being held by a militia… Read More

What was the Year of the Five Emperors (193 AD)?

Introduction The Year of the Five Emperors was 193 AD, in which five men claimed the title of Roman emperor: Pertinax, Didius Julianus, Pescennius Niger, Clodius Albinus, and Septimius Severus. This year started a period of civil war when multiple rulers vied for the chance to become Caesar. The political unrest began with the murder… Read More

What was the Algerian Civil war (1991-2002)?

Introduction The Algerian Civil War was a civil war in Algeria fought between the Algerian government and various Islamist rebel groups from 26 December 1991 (following a coup negating an Islamist electoral victory) to 08 February 2002. The war began slowly as it first appeared the government had successfully crushed the Islamist movement, but armed… Read More

What was Ogaden War (1977-1978)?

Introduction The Ogaden War, or the Ethio-Somali War (Somali: Dagaalkii Xoraynta Soomaali Galbeed), was a Somali military offensive between 13 July 1977 and 23 March 1978 over the Ethiopian sector of Ogaden, which began with the Somali invasion of Ethiopia. The Soviet Union disapproved of the invasion and ceased its support of Somalia, instead starting… Read More

What was the Spanish Civil War (1936-1939)?

Introduction The Spanish Civil War (Spanish: Guerra Civil Española) was a civil war in Spain fought from 1936 to 1939. Republicans loyal to the left-leaning Popular Front government of the Second Spanish Republic, in alliance with anarchists, of the communist and syndicalist variety, fought against a revolt by the Nationalists, an alliance of Falangists, monarchists,… Read More