Insurgency is defined as an organised, prolonged political and military struggle by a non-state group to overthrow a sitting government or occupying power. Through irregular warfare and asymmetric tactics, it progressively erodes state authority. Local population support is vital to the insurgents’ efforts, as it provides shelter, funding, recruits, intelligence, and legitimacy. Without popular support, the insurgents become isolated, and the consequent vulnerability to law enforcement agencies (LEAs) renders a sustained military effort increasingly difficult. A state’s effort to defeat an insurgency is called counterinsurgency (COIN), which includes socioeconomic activities and military strategy. In the military domain, COIN protects the population, denies insurgents shelter, and targets their logistics, communications, and leadership through precise intelligence-based operations (IBOs). While attempting to situate the military prong within the overall COIN effort, the article explores the relevance of air power to COIN and its military strategy.

In an insurgency, the state and the insurgents compete at two levels: political and military. For ultimate victory, the state must win both, whereas the insurgents only need to win at either level. Most experts agree that the local population is the centre of gravity for an insurgency, where both insurgents and the state compete to win the soft sentiment. The side winning the hearts and minds of the people achieves ultimate victory.........

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