<!DOCTYPE html>
<html class="client-nojs vector-feature-night-mode-disabled vector-feature-language-in-header-enabled vector-feature-language-in-main-page-header-disabled vector-feature-page-tools-pinned-disabled vector-feature-toc-pinned-clientpref-1 vector-feature-main-menu-pinned-disabled vector-feature-limited-width-clientpref-1 vector-feature-limited-width-content-enabled vector-feature-custom-font-size-clientpref-1 vector-feature-appearance-pinned-clientpref-1 vector-sticky-header-enabled" lang="en" dir="ltr"><head>
<meta charset="UTF-8">
<title>Defensive war</title>
<meta name="viewport" content="width=device-width, initial-scale=1.0">
<link rel="canonical" href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Defensive_war"> <link href="./mw/ext.cite.styles.css" rel="stylesheet" type="text/css">
<link href="./mw/skins.vector.icons.css" rel="stylesheet" type="text/css">
<link href="./mw/skins.vector.search.codex.styles.css" rel="stylesheet" type="text/css">
<link href="./mw/skins.vector.styles.css" rel="stylesheet" type="text/css">
<link href="./mw/user.styles.css" rel="stylesheet" type="text/css">
<meta name="ResourceLoaderDynamicStyles" content="">
<link rel="stylesheet" type="text/css" href="./mw/site.styles.css">
<link rel="stylesheet" type="text/css" href="./mw/noscript.css">
<link rel="stylesheet" type="text/css" href="./footer.css">
<link rel="stylesheet" type="text/css" href="./vector-2022.css">
</head>
<body class="skin--responsive skin-vector skin-vector-search-vue mediawiki ltr sitedir-ltr mw-hide-empty-elt ns-0 ns-subject page-Defensive_war rootpage-Defensive_war skin-vector-2022 action-view">
<div class="mw-page-container">
<div class="mw-page-container-inner">
<div class="mw-content-container">
<main id="content" class="mw-body">
<header class="mw-body-header vector-page-titlebar">
<h1 id="firstHeading" class="firstHeading mw-first-heading">
<span id="openzim-page-title" class="mw-page-title-main"><span class="mw-page-title-main">Defensive war</span></span>
</h1>
</header>
<a id="top"></a>
<div id="bodyContent" class="vector-body ve-init-mw-desktopArticleTarget-targetContainer" aria-labelledby="firstHeading" data-mw-ve-target-container="">
<div id="mw-content-text" class="mw-body-content mw-content-ltr" lang="en" dir="ltr"><div class="mw-content-ltr mw-parser-output" lang="en" dir="ltr">
<style data-mw-deduplicate="TemplateStyles:r1129693374">
/* start https://en.wikipedia.org/ */
.mw-parser-output .hlist dl,.mw-parser-output .hlist ol,.mw-parser-output .hlist ul{margin:0;padding:0}.mw-parser-output .hlist dd,.mw-parser-output .hlist dt,.mw-parser-output .hlist li{margin:0;display:inline}.mw-parser-output .hlist.inline,.mw-parser-output .hlist.inline dl,.mw-parser-output .hlist.inline ol,.mw-parser-output .hlist.inline ul,.mw-parser-output .hlist dl dl,.mw-parser-output .hlist dl ol,.mw-parser-output .hlist dl ul,.mw-parser-output .hlist ol dl,.mw-parser-output .hlist ol ol,.mw-parser-output .hlist ol ul,.mw-parser-output .hlist ul dl,.mw-parser-output .hlist ul ol,.mw-parser-output .hlist ul ul{display:inline}.mw-parser-output .hlist .mw-empty-li{display:none}.mw-parser-output .hlist dt::after{content:": "}.mw-parser-output .hlist dd::after,.mw-parser-output .hlist li::after{content:" · ";font-weight:bold}.mw-parser-output .hlist dd:last-child::after,.mw-parser-output .hlist dt:last-child::after,.mw-parser-output .hlist li:last-child::after{content:none}.mw-parser-output .hlist dd dd:first-child::before,.mw-parser-output .hlist dd dt:first-child::before,.mw-parser-output .hlist dd li:first-child::before,.mw-parser-output .hlist dt dd:first-child::before,.mw-parser-output .hlist dt dt:first-child::before,.mw-parser-output .hlist dt li:first-child::before,.mw-parser-output .hlist li dd:first-child::before,.mw-parser-output .hlist li dt:first-child::before,.mw-parser-output .hlist li li:first-child::before{content:" (";font-weight:normal}.mw-parser-output .hlist dd dd:last-child::after,.mw-parser-output .hlist dd dt:last-child::after,.mw-parser-output .hlist dd li:last-child::after,.mw-parser-output .hlist dt dd:last-child::after,.mw-parser-output .hlist dt dt:last-child::after,.mw-parser-output .hlist dt li:last-child::after,.mw-parser-output .hlist li dd:last-child::after,.mw-parser-output .hlist li dt:last-child::after,.mw-parser-output .hlist li li:last-child::after{content:")";font-weight:normal}.mw-parser-output .hlist ol{counter-reset:listitem}.mw-parser-output .hlist ol>li{counter-increment:listitem}.mw-parser-output .hlist ol>li::before{content:" "counter(listitem)"\a0 "}.mw-parser-output .hlist dd ol>li:first-child::before,.mw-parser-output .hlist dt ol>li:first-child::before,.mw-parser-output .hlist li ol>li:first-child::before{content:" ("counter(listitem)"\a0 "}
/* end https://en.wikipedia.org/ */
</style><style data-mw-deduplicate="TemplateStyles:r1246091330">
/* start https://en.wikipedia.org/ */
.mw-parser-output .sidebar{width:22em;float:right;clear:right;margin:0.5em 0 1em 1em;background:var(--background-color-neutral-subtle,#f8f9fa);border:1px solid var(--border-color-base,#a2a9b1);padding:0.2em;text-align:center;line-height:1.4em;font-size:88%;border-collapse:collapse;display:table}body.skin-minerva .mw-parser-output .sidebar{display:table!important;float:right!important;margin:0.5em 0 1em 1em!important}.mw-parser-output .sidebar-subgroup{width:100%;margin:0;border-spacing:0}.mw-parser-output .sidebar-left{float:left;clear:left;margin:0.5em 1em 1em 0}.mw-parser-output .sidebar-none{float:none;clear:both;margin:0.5em 1em 1em 0}.mw-parser-output .sidebar-outer-title{padding:0 0.4em 0.2em;font-size:125%;line-height:1.2em;font-weight:bold}.mw-parser-output .sidebar-top-image{padding:0.4em}.mw-parser-output .sidebar-top-caption,.mw-parser-output .sidebar-pretitle-with-top-image,.mw-parser-output .sidebar-caption{padding:0.2em 0.4em 0;line-height:1.2em}.mw-parser-output .sidebar-pretitle{padding:0.4em 0.4em 0;line-height:1.2em}.mw-parser-output .sidebar-title,.mw-parser-output .sidebar-title-with-pretitle{padding:0.2em 0.8em;font-size:145%;line-height:1.2em}.mw-parser-output .sidebar-title-with-pretitle{padding:0.1em 0.4em}.mw-parser-output .sidebar-image{padding:0.2em 0.4em 0.4em}.mw-parser-output .sidebar-heading{padding:0.1em 0.4em}.mw-parser-output .sidebar-content{padding:0 0.5em 0.4em}.mw-parser-output .sidebar-content-with-subgroup{padding:0.1em 0.4em 0.2em}.mw-parser-output .sidebar-above,.mw-parser-output .sidebar-below{padding:0.3em 0.8em;font-weight:bold}.mw-parser-output .sidebar-collapse .sidebar-above,.mw-parser-output .sidebar-collapse .sidebar-below{border-top:1px solid #aaa;border-bottom:1px solid #aaa}.mw-parser-output .sidebar-navbar{text-align:right;font-size:115%;padding:0 0.4em 0.4em}.mw-parser-output .sidebar-list-title{padding:0 0.4em;text-align:left;font-weight:bold;line-height:1.6em;font-size:105%}.mw-parser-output .sidebar-list-title-c{padding:0 0.4em;text-align:center;margin:0 3.3em}@media(max-width:640px){body.mediawiki .mw-parser-output .sidebar{width:100%!important;clear:both;float:none!important;margin-left:0!important;margin-right:0!important}}body.skin--responsive .mw-parser-output .sidebar a>img{max-width:none!important}@media screen{html.skin-theme-clientpref-night .mw-parser-output .sidebar:not(.notheme) .sidebar-list-title,html.skin-theme-clientpref-night .mw-parser-output .sidebar:not(.notheme) .sidebar-title-with-pretitle{background:transparent!important}html.skin-theme-clientpref-night .mw-parser-output .sidebar:not(.notheme) .sidebar-title-with-pretitle a{color:var(--color-progressive)!important}}@media screen and (prefers-color-scheme:dark){html.skin-theme-clientpref-os .mw-parser-output .sidebar:not(.notheme) .sidebar-list-title,html.skin-theme-clientpref-os .mw-parser-output .sidebar:not(.notheme) .sidebar-title-with-pretitle{background:transparent!important}html.skin-theme-clientpref-os .mw-parser-output .sidebar:not(.notheme) .sidebar-title-with-pretitle a{color:var(--color-progressive)!important}}@media print{body.ns-0 .mw-parser-output .sidebar{display:none!important}}
/* end https://en.wikipedia.org/ */
</style><style data-mw-deduplicate="TemplateStyles:r886047488">
/* start https://en.wikipedia.org/ */
.mw-parser-output .nobold{font-weight:normal}
/* end https://en.wikipedia.org/ */
</style><table class="sidebar sidebar-collapse nomobile nowraplinks hlist" style="width:"><tbody><tr><td class="sidebar-pretitle">Part of a series on</td></tr><tr><th class="sidebar-title-with-pretitle" style="font-size:150%;"><span style="font-size:120%"><a href="War" title="War">War</a></span><br><span class="nobold"><span style="font-size: 85%;">(<a href="Outline_of_war" title="Outline of war">outline</a>)</span></span></th></tr><tr><td class="sidebar-image"><span typeof="mw:File"></span></td></tr><tr><td class="sidebar-content">
<div class="sidebar-list mw-collapsible mw-collapsed"><div class="sidebar-list-title" style="background:transparent;border-top:1px solid #aaa;;color: var(--color-base)"><a href="Military_history" title="Military history">History</a></div><div class="sidebar-list-content mw-collapsible-content">
<ul><li><a href="Prehistoric_warfare" title="Prehistoric warfare">Prehistoric</a></li>
<li><a href="Ancient_warfare" title="Ancient warfare">Ancient</a>
<ul><li><a href="Early_thermal_weapons" title="Early thermal weapons">Thermal</a></li>
<li><a href="History_of_gunpowder" title="History of gunpowder">Gunpowder</a>
<ul><li><a href="Timeline_of_the_gunpowder_age" title="Timeline of the gunpowder age">Timeline</a></li></ul></li></ul></li>
<li><a href="Medieval_warfare" title="Medieval warfare">Post-classical</a>
<ul><li><a href="Medieval_fortification" title="Medieval fortification">Castles</a></li></ul></li>
<li><a href="Early_modern_warfare" title="Early modern warfare">Early modern</a>
<ul><li><a href="Military_Revolution" title="Military Revolution">Military revolution</a></li>
<li><a href="Pike_and_shot" title="Pike and shot">Pike and shot</a></li>
<li><a href="Napoleonic_weaponry_and_warfare" title="Napoleonic weaponry and warfare">Napoleonic warfare</a></li></ul></li>
<li><a href="Modern_warfare" title="Modern warfare">Late modern</a>
<ul><li><a href="Industrial_warfare" title="Industrial warfare">Industrial warfare</a></li>
<li><a href="Fourth-generation_warfare" title="Fourth-generation warfare">Fourth-gen warfare</a></li>
<li><a href="Artificial_intelligence_arms_race" title="Artificial intelligence arms race">AI warfare</a></li></ul></li></ul></div></div></td>
</tr><tr><td class="sidebar-content">
<div class="sidebar-list mw-collapsible mw-collapsed"><div class="sidebar-list-title" style="background:transparent;border-top:1px solid #aaa;;color: var(--color-base)"><a href="Military" title="Military">Military</a></div><div class="sidebar-list-content mw-collapsible-content">
<ul><li><a href="Military_organization" title="Military organization">Organization</a></li>
<li><a href="Command_and_control" title="Command and control">Command and control</a></li>
<li><a href="Defense_ministry" class="mw-redirect" title="Defense ministry">Defense ministry</a></li>
<li><a href="Military_reserve_force" title="Military reserve force">Reserves</a></li>
<li><a href="Military_rank" title="Military rank">Ranks</a></li></ul>
<hr>
<ul><li><i>Branches:</i></li>
<li><a href="Army" title="Army">Army</a></li>
<li><a href="Navy" title="Navy">Navy</a></li>
<li><a href="Air_force" title="Air force">Air force</a></li>
<li><a href="Marines" title="Marines">Marines</a></li>
<li><a href="Coast_guard" title="Coast guard">Coast guard</a></li>
<li><a href="Border_guard" title="Border guard">Border guard</a></li>
<li><a href="Special_forces" title="Special forces">Special forces</a></li>
<li><a href="Cyber_force" title="Cyber force">Cyber force</a></li>
<li><a href="Space_force" title="Space force">Space force</a></li></ul>
<hr>
<ul><li><i>Specialties:</i></li>
<li><a href="Staff_(military)" title="Staff (military)">Staff</a></li>
<li><a href="Combat_engineer" title="Combat engineer">Engineers</a></li>
<li><a href="Military_intelligence" title="Military intelligence">Intel</a></li>
<li><a href="Reconnaissance" title="Reconnaissance">Recon</a></li>
<li><a href="Medical_corps" title="Medical corps">Medical</a></li>
<li><a href="Military_police" title="Military police">Police</a></li>
<li><a href="Military_diving" title="Military diving">Diving</a></li>
<li><a href="Aircraft_pilot" title="Aircraft pilot">Pilot</a></li></ul>
<hr>
<ul><li><i>Land units:</i></li>
<li><a href="Infantry" title="Infantry">Infantry</a></li>
<li><a href="Armoured_fighting_vehicle" title="Armoured fighting vehicle">Armor</a>
<ul><li><a href="Cavalry" title="Cavalry">Cavalry</a></li></ul></li>
<li><a href="Artillery" title="Artillery">Artillery</a></li>
<li><a href="Special_forces" title="Special forces">Special forces</a></li>
<li><a href="Signal_corps" title="Signal corps">Signal corps</a></li></ul>
<hr>
<ul><li><i>Naval units:</i></li>
<li><a href="Warship" title="Warship">Warships</a></li>
<li><a href="Submarine" title="Submarine">Submarines</a></li>
<li><a href="Aircraft_carrier" title="Aircraft carrier">Aircraft carriers</a></li>
<li><a href="Landing_craft" title="Landing craft">Landing craft</a></li>
<li><a href="Auxiliary_ship" title="Auxiliary ship">Auxiliary ships</a></li></ul>
<hr>
<ul><li><i>Air units:</i></li>
<li><a href="Fighter_aircraft" title="Fighter aircraft">Fighters</a></li>
<li><a href="Bomber" title="Bomber">Bombers</a></li>
<li><a href="Airborne_early_warning_and_control" title="Airborne early warning and control">Command</a></li>
<li><a href="Close_air_support" title="Close air support">Close air support</a></li>
<li><a href="Electronic-warfare_aircraft" title="Electronic-warfare aircraft">Electronic-warfare</a></li>
<li><a href="Reconnaissance_aircraft" title="Reconnaissance aircraft">Reconnaissance</a></li></ul>
<hr>
<ul><li><i>Combat systems:</i></li>
<li><a href="Fire-control_system" title="Fire-control system">Fire-control system</a></li>
<li><a href="Fire-control_radar" title="Fire-control radar">Fire-control radar</a></li>
<li><a href="Director_(military)" title="Director (military)">Director (military)</a></li>
<li><a href="Combat_information_center" title="Combat information center">Combat information center</a></li>
<li><a href="Sonar" title="Sonar">Sonar</a></li>
<li><a href="Radar" title="Radar">Radar</a></li></ul>
<hr>
<ul><li><i>Historical:</i></li>
<li><a href="Ship_gun_fire-control_system" title="Ship gun fire-control system">Ship gun fire-control</a></li>
<li><a href="Gun_data_computer" title="Gun data computer">Gun data computer</a></li>
<li><a href="Torpedo_Data_Computer" title="Torpedo Data Computer">Torpedo data computer</a></li></ul>
<hr>
<ul><li><i>Development:</i></li>
<li><a href="Basic_training" class="mw-redirect" title="Basic training">Basic training</a></li>
<li><a href="Military_exercise" title="Military exercise">Military manoeuvrers</a></li>
<li><a href="Combat_training" class="mw-redirect" title="Combat training">Combat training</a></li></ul></div></div></td>
</tr><tr><td class="sidebar-content">
<div class="sidebar-list mw-collapsible mw-collapsed"><div class="sidebar-list-title" style="background:transparent;border-top:1px solid #aaa;;color: var(--color-base)"><a href="Battlespace" title="Battlespace">Battlespace</a></div><div class="sidebar-list-content mw-collapsible-content">
<ul><li><a href="Aerospace" title="Aerospace">Aerospace</a>
<ul><li><a href="Aerial_warfare" title="Aerial warfare">Aerial</a></li>
<li><a href="Airborne_forces" title="Airborne forces">Airborne</a></li>
<li><a href="Space_warfare" title="Space warfare">Space</a></li></ul></li></ul>
<hr>
<ul><li><a href="Land_warfare" title="Land warfare">Land</a>
<ul><li><a href="Cold-weather_warfare" title="Cold-weather warfare">Cold-region</a></li>
<li><a href="Desert_warfare" title="Desert warfare">Desert</a></li>
<li><a href="Fortification" title="Fortification">Fortification</a></li>
<li><a href="Jungle_warfare" title="Jungle warfare">Jungle</a></li>
<li><a href="Mountain_warfare" title="Mountain warfare">Mountain</a></li>
<li><a href="Urban_warfare" title="Urban warfare">Urban</a></li>
<li><a href="Subterranean_warfare" title="Subterranean warfare">Subterranean</a>
<ul><li><a href="Tunnel_warfare" title="Tunnel warfare">Tunnel</a></li></ul></li></ul></li></ul>
<hr>
<ul><li><a href="Naval_warfare" title="Naval warfare">Sea</a>
<ul><li><a href="Amphibious_warfare" title="Amphibious warfare">Amphibious</a></li>
<li><a href="Blue-water_navy" title="Blue-water navy">Blue</a></li>
<li><a href="Brown-water_navy" title="Brown-water navy">Brown</a></li>
<li><a href="Green-water_navy" title="Green-water navy">Green</a></li>
<li><a href="Surface_warfare" title="Surface warfare">Surface</a></li>
<li><a href="Underwater_warfare" title="Underwater warfare">Underwater</a>
<ul><li><a href="Seabed_warfare" title="Seabed warfare">Seabed</a></li></ul></li></ul></li></ul>
<hr>
<ul><li><a href="Cyberwarfare" title="Cyberwarfare">Cyber</a></li>
<li><a href="Information_warfare" title="Information warfare">Information</a></li></ul></div></div></td>
</tr><tr><td class="sidebar-content">
<div class="sidebar-list mw-collapsible mw-collapsed"><div class="sidebar-list-title" style="background:transparent;border-top:1px solid #aaa;;color: var(--color-base)"><a href="Weapon" title="Weapon">Weapons</a></div><div class="sidebar-list-content mw-collapsible-content">
<ul><li><a href="Anti-aircraft_warfare" title="Anti-aircraft warfare">Air defence</a></li>
<li><a href="Armoured_warfare" title="Armoured warfare">Armor</a></li>
<li><a href="Artillery" title="Artillery">Artillery</a></li>
<li><a href="Barrage_(artillery)" title="Barrage (artillery)">Barrage</a></li>
<li><a href="Biological_warfare" title="Biological warfare">Biological</a></li>
<li><a href="Military_camouflage" title="Military camouflage">Camouflage</a></li>
<li><a href="Cavalry" title="Cavalry">Cavalry</a>
<ul><li><a href="Horses_in_warfare" title="Horses in warfare">Horses</a></li>
<li><a href="Cavalry_tactics#Cavalry_in_modern_warfare" title="Cavalry tactics">Air cavalry</a></li></ul></li>
<li><a href="Chemical_warfare" title="Chemical warfare">Chemical</a></li>
<li><a href="Combined_arms" title="Combined arms">Combined arms</a></li>
<li><a href="Conventional_warfare" title="Conventional warfare">Conventional</a></li>
<li><a href="Cyberweapon" title="Cyberweapon">Cyber</a></li>
<li><a href="Area_denial_weapon" title="Area denial weapon">Denial</a></li>
<li><a href="Disinformation" title="Disinformation">Disinformation</a></li>
<li><a href="Drone_warfare" title="Drone warfare">Drone</a> / <a href="Military_robot" title="Military robot">Robot</a></li>
<li><a href="Electromagnetic_warfare" class="mw-redirect" title="Electromagnetic warfare">Electromagnetic</a></li>
<li><a href="Firearm" title="Firearm">Firearms</a></li>
<li><a href="Infantry" title="Infantry">Infantry</a></li>
<li><a href="Loitering_munition" title="Loitering munition">Loitering</a></li>
<li><a href="Missile_defense" title="Missile defense">Missile</a></li>
<li><a href="Martial_music" title="Martial music">Music</a></li>
<li><a href="Nuclear_warfare" title="Nuclear warfare">Nuclear</a></li>
<li><a href="Psychological_warfare" title="Psychological warfare">Psychological</a></li>
<li><a href="Radiological_warfare" title="Radiological warfare">Radiological</a></li>
<li><a href="Submarine_warfare" title="Submarine warfare">Submarine</a></li>
<li><a href="Unconventional_warfare" title="Unconventional warfare">Unconventional</a></li></ul></div></div></td>
</tr><tr><td class="sidebar-content">
<div class="sidebar-list mw-collapsible mw-collapsed"><div class="sidebar-list-title" style="background:transparent;border-top:1px solid #aaa;;color: var(--color-base)"><a href="Military_tactics" title="Military tactics">Tactics</a></div><div class="sidebar-list-content mw-collapsible-content"><a href="List_of_military_tactics" title="List of military tactics">List of military tactics</a>
<ul><li><a href="Air_combat_manoeuvring" title="Air combat manoeuvring">Aerial</a></li>
<li><a href="Airlift" title="Airlift">Airlift</a>
<ul><li><a href="Air_assault" title="Air assault">Air assault</a></li>
<li><a href="Airbridge_(logistics)" title="Airbridge (logistics)">Airbridge</a></li>
<li><a href="Airdrop" title="Airdrop">Airdrop</a></li></ul></li>
<li><a href="Anti-aircraft_warfare" title="Anti-aircraft warfare">Anti-aircraft</a></li>
<li><a href="Anti-submarine_warfare" title="Anti-submarine warfare">Anti-sub</a></li>
<li><a href="Anti-tank_warfare" title="Anti-tank warfare">Anti-tank</a></li>
<li><a href="Battle" title="Battle">Battle</a></li>
<li><a href="Cavalry_tactics" title="Cavalry tactics">Cavalry</a></li>
<li><a href="Charge_(warfare)" title="Charge (warfare)">Charge</a></li>
<li><a href="Close-quarters_battle" title="Close-quarters battle">CQC</a></li>
<li><a href="Counterattack" title="Counterattack">Counterattack</a></li>
<li><a href="Counterinsurgency" title="Counterinsurgency">Counterinsurgency</a></li>
<li><a href="Convoy" title="Convoy">Convoy</a></li>
<li><a href="Defeat_in_detail" title="Defeat in detail">Defeat in detail</a></li>
<li><a href="Defensive_fighting_position" title="Defensive fighting position">Foxhole</a></li>
<li><a href="Drone_warfare" title="Drone warfare">Drone</a></li>
<li><a href="Envelopment" title="Envelopment">Envelopment</a></li>
<li><a href="Tactical_formation" title="Tactical formation">Formation</a></li>
<li><a href="Guerrilla_warfare" title="Guerrilla warfare">Guerrilla</a></li>
<li><a href="Naval_tactics" title="Naval tactics">Naval</a></li>
<li><a href="Shock_and_awe" title="Shock and awe">Rapid dominance</a></li>
<li><a href="Encirclement" title="Encirclement">Encirclement</a></li>
<li><a href="Investment_(military)" title="Investment (military)">Investment</a>
<ul><li><a href="Siege" title="Siege">Siege</a></li></ul></li>
<li><a href="Swarming_(military)" title="Swarming (military)">Swarm</a></li>
<li><a href="Screening_(tactical)" title="Screening (tactical)">Screen</a></li>
<li><a href="Tactical_objective" title="Tactical objective">Tactical objective</a></li>
<li><a href="Saturation_attack" title="Saturation attack">Target saturation</a></li>
<li><a href="Trench_warfare" title="Trench warfare">Trench</a></li>
<li><a href="Withdrawal_(military)" title="Withdrawal (military)">Withdrawal</a></li></ul></div></div></td>
</tr><tr><td class="sidebar-content">
<div class="sidebar-list mw-collapsible mw-collapsed"><div class="sidebar-list-title" style="background:transparent;border-top:1px solid #aaa;;color: var(--color-base)"><a href="Operational_level_of_war" title="Operational level of war">Operational</a></div><div class="sidebar-list-content mw-collapsible-content">
<ul><li><a href="Military_operation" title="Military operation">Military operation</a>
<ul><li><a href="Special_operations" title="Special operations">Special</a></li></ul></li>
<li><a href="Operations_research" title="Operations research">Operations research</a></li>
<li><i><a href="Blitzkrieg" title="Blitzkrieg">Blitzkrieg</a></i></li>
<li><a href="Expeditionary_warfare" title="Expeditionary warfare">Expeditionary</a></li>
<li><a href="Deep_operation" title="Deep operation">Deep operation</a></li>
<li><a href="Maneuver_warfare" title="Maneuver warfare">Maneuver</a></li>
<li><a href="Operational_manoeuvre_group" title="Operational manoeuvre group">Operational manoeuvre group</a></li>
<li><a href="Raid_(military)" title="Raid (military)">Raid</a></li>
<li><a href="Covert_operation" title="Covert operation">Covert</a></li>
<li><a href="Stay-behind" title="Stay-behind">Stay-behind</a></li></ul></div></div></td>
</tr><tr><td class="sidebar-content">
<div class="sidebar-list mw-collapsible mw-collapsed"><div class="sidebar-list-title" style="background:transparent;border-top:1px solid #aaa;;color: var(--color-base)"><a href="Military_strategy" title="Military strategy">Strategy</a></div><div class="sidebar-list-content mw-collapsible-content"><a href="List_of_military_strategies_and_concepts" title="List of military strategies and concepts">List of military strategies and concepts</a>
<ul><li><a href="Military_campaign" title="Military campaign">Military campaign</a></li>
<li><a href="Anti-access/area_denial" title="Anti-access/area denial">Anti-access</a></li>
<li><a href="Attrition_warfare" title="Attrition warfare">Attrition</a></li>
<li><a href="Commerce_raiding" title="Commerce raiding">Commerce raiding</a></li>
<li><a href="Counter-offensive" class="mw-redirect" title="Counter-offensive">Counter-offensive</a></li>
<li><a href="Culminating_point" title="Culminating point">Culminating</a></li>
<li><a href="Defence_in_depth" title="Defence in depth">Defence in depth</a></li>
<li><a href="Fabian_strategy" title="Fabian strategy">Fabian</a></li>
<li><a href="Empty_Fort_Strategy" title="Empty Fort Strategy">Empty fort</a></li>
<li><a href="Mosaic_Warfare" class="mw-redirect" title="Mosaic Warfare">Mosaic</a></li>
<li><a href="Military_deception" title="Military deception">Deception</a></li>
<li><a href="Strategic_defence" title="Strategic defence">Defensive</a></li>
<li><a href="Strategic_depth" title="Strategic depth">Depth</a></li>
<li><a href="Strategic_goal_(military)" title="Strategic goal (military)">Goal</a></li>
<li><a href="Nuclear_strategy" title="Nuclear strategy">Nuclear</a></li>
<li><a href="Naval_strategy" title="Naval strategy">Naval</a></li>
<li><a href="Offensive_(military)" title="Offensive (military)">Offensive</a></li>
<li><a href="Scorched_earth" title="Scorched earth">Scorched earth</a></li></ul></div></div></td>
</tr><tr><td class="sidebar-content">
<div class="sidebar-list mw-collapsible mw-collapsed"><div class="sidebar-list-title" style="background:transparent;border-top:1px solid #aaa;;color: var(--color-base)"><a href="Grand_strategy" title="Grand strategy">Grand strategy</a></div><div class="sidebar-list-content mw-collapsible-content">
<ul><li><a href="Asymmetric_warfare" title="Asymmetric warfare">Asymmetric</a></li>
<li><a href="Blockade" title="Blockade">Blockade</a></li>
<li><a href="Broken-backed_war_theory" title="Broken-backed war theory">Broken-backed</a></li>
<li><a href="Class_conflict" class="mw-redirect" title="Class conflict">Class</a></li>
<li><a href="Cold_war_(general_term)" class="mw-redirect" title="Cold war (general term)">Cold war</a></li>
<li><a href="Colonial_war" title="Colonial war">Colonial</a></li>
<li><a href="Conquest" title="Conquest">Conquest</a></li>
<li><a href="Containment" title="Containment">Containment</a></li>
<li><a href="Divide_and_rule" class="mw-redirect" title="Divide and rule">Divide and conquer</a></li>
<li><a href="Economic_warfare" title="Economic warfare">Economic</a></li>
<li><a href="Endemic_warfare" class="mw-redirect" title="Endemic warfare">Endemic</a></li>
<li><a href="Fleet_in_being" title="Fleet in being">Fleet in being</a></li>
<li><a href="Irregular_warfare" title="Irregular warfare">Irregular</a></li>
<li><a href="Wars_of_national_liberation" title="Wars of national liberation">Liberation</a></li>
<li><a href="Limited_war" title="Limited war">Limited</a></li>
<li><a href="Network-centric_warfare" title="Network-centric warfare">Network-centric</a></li>
<li><a href="New_generation_warfare" title="New generation warfare">New generation</a></li>
<li><a href="Perpetual_war" title="Perpetual war">Perpetual</a></li>
<li><a href="Political_warfare" title="Political warfare">Political</a></li>
<li><a href="Princely_rebellion" title="Princely rebellion">Princely</a></li>
<li><a href="Proxy_war" title="Proxy war">Proxy</a></li>
<li><a href="Religious_war" title="Religious war">Religious</a></li>
<li><a href="Resource_war" title="Resource war">Resource</a></li>
<li><a href="Strategic_studies" title="Strategic studies">Strategic</a></li>
<li><a href="War_of_succession" title="War of succession">Succession</a></li>
<li><a href="Military_technology" title="Military technology">Technology</a></li>
<li><a href="Theater_(warfare)" title="Theater (warfare)">Theater</a></li>
<li><a href="Total_war" title="Total war">Total war</a></li>
<li><a href="World_war" title="World war">World war</a></li></ul></div></div></td>
</tr><tr><td class="sidebar-content">
<div class="sidebar-list mw-collapsible mw-collapsed"><div class="sidebar-list-title" style="background:transparent;border-top:1px solid #aaa;;color: var(--color-base)"><a href="Military_administration" title="Military administration">Administrative</a></div><div class="sidebar-list-content mw-collapsible-content">
<ul><li><a href="Military_branch" title="Military branch">Branch</a></li>
<li><a href="Military_policy" title="Military policy">Policy</a></li>
<li><a href="Staff_(military)" title="Staff (military)">Staff</a></li>
<li><a href="Military_education_and_training" title="Military education and training">Training</a></li>
<li><a href="Military_service" title="Military service">Service</a></li>
<li><a href="Military_sociology" title="Military sociology">Sociology</a></li></ul></div></div></td>
</tr><tr><td class="sidebar-content">
<div class="sidebar-list mw-collapsible mw-collapsed"><div class="sidebar-list-title" style="background:transparent;border-top:1px solid #aaa;;color: var(--color-base)"><a href="Military_organization" title="Military organization">Organization</a></div><div class="sidebar-list-content mw-collapsible-content">
<ul><li><a href="Area_of_responsibility" title="Area of responsibility">Area of responsibility</a></li>
<li><a href="Command_hierarchy" title="Command hierarchy">Chain of command</a></li>
<li><a href="Command_and_control" title="Command and control">Command and control</a></li>
<li><a href="Military_doctrine" title="Military doctrine">Doctrine</a></li>
<li><a href="Order_of_battle" title="Order of battle">Order of battle</a></li>
<li><a href="Principles_of_war" title="Principles of war">Principles of war</a></li>
<li><a href="Economy_of_force" title="Economy of force">Economy of force</a></li>
<li><a href="Military_medicine" title="Military medicine">Medicine</a></li>
<li><a href="Military_engineering" title="Military engineering">Engineers</a></li>
<li><a href="Military_intelligence" title="Military intelligence">Intelligence</a></li>
<li><a href="Military_rank" title="Military rank">Ranks</a></li>
<li><a href="Military_technology" title="Military technology">Technology and equipment</a></li></ul></div></div></td>
</tr><tr><td class="sidebar-content">
<div class="sidebar-list mw-collapsible mw-collapsed"><div class="sidebar-list-title" style="background:transparent;border-top:1px solid #aaa;;color: var(--color-base)"><a href="Military_personnel" title="Military personnel">Personnel</a></div><div class="sidebar-list-content mw-collapsible-content">
<ul><li><a href="Military_recruitment" title="Military recruitment">Recruitment</a></li>
<li><a href="Conscription" title="Conscription">Conscription</a></li>
<li><a href="Draft_evasion" title="Draft evasion">Draft evasion</a></li>
<li><a href="Mobilization" title="Mobilization">Mobilization</a></li>
<li><a href="Recruit_training" class="mw-redirect" title="Recruit training">Training</a></li>
<li><a href="Military_specialism" title="Military specialism">Specialism</a></li>
<li><a href="Soldier" title="Soldier">Soldier</a></li>
<li><a href="Morale" title="Morale">Morale</a></li>
<li><a href="Military_volunteer" title="Military volunteer">Volunteer</a></li>
<li><a href="Women_in_the_military" title="Women in the military">Women</a></li>
<li><a href="Children_in_the_military" title="Children in the military">Children</a></li>
<li><a href="Transgender_people_and_military_service" title="Transgender people and military service">Transgender</a></li>
<li><a href="Sexual_harassment_in_the_military" title="Sexual harassment in the military">Harassment</a></li>
<li><a href="Conscientious_objector" title="Conscientious objector">Conscientious objector</a></li>
<li><a href="Conscription_and_sexism" title="Conscription and sexism">Conscription and sexism</a></li>
<li><a href="Counter-recruitment" title="Counter-recruitment">Counter-recruitment</a></li></ul></div></div></td>
</tr><tr><td class="sidebar-content">
<div class="sidebar-list mw-collapsible mw-collapsed"><div class="sidebar-list-title" style="background:transparent;border-top:1px solid #aaa;;color: var(--color-base)"><a href="Military_logistics" title="Military logistics">Logistics</a></div><div class="sidebar-list-content mw-collapsible-content">
<ul><li><a href="History_of_military_logistics" title="History of military logistics">History</a></li>
<li><a href="War_economy" title="War economy">War economy</a></li>
<li><a href="Arms_industry" title="Arms industry">Arms industry</a></li>
<li><a href="Materiel" title="Materiel">Materiel</a></li>
<li><a href="Military_supply-chain_management" title="Military supply-chain management">Supply-chain management</a></li>
<li><a href="Military%E2%80%93industrial_complex" title="Military–industrial complex">Military–industrial complex</a></li>
<li><a href="Military_base" title="Military base">Base</a>
<ul><li><a href="Main_operating_base" title="Main operating base">MOB</a></li>
<li><a href="Forward_operating_base" title="Forward operating base">FOB</a></li>
<li><a href="Outpost_(military)" title="Outpost (military)">Outpost</a></li></ul></li></ul></div></div></td>
</tr><tr><td class="sidebar-content">
<div class="sidebar-list mw-collapsible mw-collapsed"><div class="sidebar-list-title" style="background:transparent;border-top:1px solid #aaa;;color: var(--color-base)"><a href="Military_science" title="Military science">Science</a></div><div class="sidebar-list-content mw-collapsible-content">
<ul><li><a href="Power_projection" title="Power projection">Power projection</a></li>
<li><a href="Loss-of-strength_gradient" title="Loss-of-strength gradient">Loss-of-strength gradient</a></li>
<li><a href="Lanchester's_laws" title="Lanchester's laws">Lanchester's laws</a>
<ul><li><a href="Force_multiplication" title="Force multiplication">Force multiplication</a></li></ul></li>
<li><a href="Morale" title="Morale">Morale</a></li></ul></div></div></td>
</tr><tr><td class="sidebar-content">
<div class="sidebar-list mw-collapsible mw-collapsed"><div class="sidebar-list-title" style="background:transparent;border-top:1px solid #aaa;;color: var(--color-base)"><a href="Law_of_war" title="Law of war">Law</a></div><div class="sidebar-list-content mw-collapsible-content">
<ul><li><a href="Belligerent" title="Belligerent">Belligerent</a></li>
<li><a href="Military_occupation" title="Military occupation">Occupation</a></li>
<li><a href="Armistice" title="Armistice">Armistice</a></li>
<li><a href="Ceasefire" title="Ceasefire">Ceasefire</a></li>
<li><a href="Court-martial" title="Court-martial">Court-martial</a></li>
<li><a href="Desertion" title="Desertion">Desertion</a></li>
<li><a href="Geneva_Conventions" title="Geneva Conventions">Geneva Conventions</a></li>
<li><a href="Geneva_Protocol" title="Geneva Protocol">Geneva Protocol</a></li>
<li><a href="Islamic_military_jurisprudence" title="Islamic military jurisprudence">Islamic rules</a></li>
<li><a href="Military_justice" title="Military justice">Justice</a></li>
<li><a href="Combatant" title="Combatant">Lawful</a> / <a href="Unlawful_combatant" title="Unlawful combatant">Unlawful combatant</a></li>
<li><a href="Perfidy" title="Perfidy">Perfidy</a></li>
<li><a href="Regular_army" title="Regular army">Regular</a> / <a href="Irregular_military" title="Irregular military">Irregular</a></li>
<li><a href="Jewish_laws_on_war" class="mw-redirect" title="Jewish laws on war">Jewish laws on war</a></li>
<li><a href="Right_of_conquest" title="Right of conquest">Right of conquest</a></li>
<li><a href="Self-defence_in_international_law" title="Self-defence in international law">Right of self-defence</a></li>
<li><a href="Rules_of_engagement" title="Rules of engagement">Rules of engagement</a></li>
<li><a href="Self-determination" title="Self-determination">Self-determination</a></li>
<li><a href="Martial_law" title="Martial law">Martial law</a></li>
<li><a href="War_crime" title="War crime">War crime</a></li>
<li><a href="War_and_genocide" title="War and genocide">War and genocide</a></li>
<li><a href="War_treason" title="War treason">War treason</a></li></ul></div></div></td>
</tr><tr><td class="sidebar-content">
<div class="sidebar-list mw-collapsible mw-collapsed"><div class="sidebar-list-title" style="background:transparent;border-top:1px solid #aaa;;color: var(--color-base)"><a href="Military_theory" title="Military theory">Theory</a></div><div class="sidebar-list-content mw-collapsible-content">
<ul><li><a href="Air_supremacy" title="Air supremacy">Air supremacy</a></li>
<li><a href="Appeasement" title="Appeasement">Appeasement</a></li>
<li><a href="Command_of_the_sea" title="Command of the sea">Command of the sea</a></li>
<li><a href="Deterrence_theory" title="Deterrence theory">Deterrence theory</a></li>
<li><a href="Full-spectrum_dominance" title="Full-spectrum dominance">Full-spectrum dominance</a></li>
<li><a href="Overmatch" title="Overmatch">Overmatch</a></li>
<li><a href="Just_war_theory" title="Just war theory">Just war theory</a></li>
<li><a href="Principles_of_war" title="Principles of war">Principles of war</a></li>
<li><a href="Philosophy_of_war" title="Philosophy of war">Philosophy of war</a></li>
<li><a href="Security_dilemma" title="Security dilemma">Security dilemma</a>
<ul><li><a href="Tripwire_force" title="Tripwire force">Tripwire force</a></li></ul></li>
<li><a href="Professional_wargaming" title="Professional wargaming">Wargaming</a>
<ul><li><a href="Military_simulation" title="Military simulation">Simulation</a></li>
<li><a href="Military_exercise" title="Military exercise">Exercises</a></li></ul></li>
<li><a href="Combat_effectiveness" title="Combat effectiveness">Combat effectiveness</a></li>
<li><a href="Center_of_gravity_(military)" title="Center of gravity (military)">Center of gravity</a></li></ul></div></div></td>
</tr><tr><td class="sidebar-content">
<div class="sidebar-list mw-collapsible mw-collapsed"><div class="sidebar-list-title" style="background:transparent;border-top:1px solid #aaa;;color: var(--color-base)"><a href="Military_operations_other_than_war" title="Military operations other than war">Non-warfare</a></div><div class="sidebar-list-content mw-collapsible-content">
<ul><li><a href="Arms_control" title="Arms control">Arms control</a></li>
<li><a href="Counter-insurgency" class="mw-redirect" title="Counter-insurgency">Counter-insurgency</a></li>
<li><a href="Deterrence_theory" title="Deterrence theory">Deterrence</a></li>
<li><a href="Disaster_response" title="Disaster response">Disaster response</a></li>
<li><a href="Grey-zone_(international_relations)" title="Grey-zone (international relations)">Grey-zone</a></li>
<li><a href="Gunboat_diplomacy" title="Gunboat diplomacy">Gunboat diplomacy</a></li>
<li><a href="Humanitarian_aid" title="Humanitarian aid">Humanitarian aid</a></li>
<li><a href="Law_enforcement" title="Law enforcement">Law enforcement</a></li>
<li><a href="Low-intensity_conflict" title="Low-intensity conflict">Low-intensity conflict</a></li>
<li><a href="Military_engineering" title="Military engineering">Military engineering</a></li>
<li><a href="Peacekeeping" title="Peacekeeping">Peacekeeping</a>
<ul><li><a href="Peacebuilding" title="Peacebuilding">Peacebuilding</a></li>
<li><a href="Peace_through_strength" title="Peace through strength">Peace through strength</a></li></ul></li>
<li><a href="Show_of_force" title="Show of force">Show of force</a></li></ul></div></div></td>
</tr><tr><td class="sidebar-content">
<div class="sidebar-list mw-collapsible mw-collapsed"><div class="sidebar-list-title" style="background:transparent;border-top:1px solid #aaa;;color: var(--color-base)"><a href="Military_tradition" title="Military tradition">Culture</a></div><div class="sidebar-list-content mw-collapsible-content">
<ul><li><a href="Military_awards_and_decorations" title="Military awards and decorations">Awards and decorations</a></li>
<li><a href="Battle_cry" title="Battle cry">Battle cry</a></li>
<li><a href="Warrior" title="Warrior">Warrior</a></li>
<li><a href="War_film" title="War film">War film</a></li>
<li><a href="Military_science_fiction" title="Military science fiction">Military science fiction</a></li>
<li><a href="War_novel" title="War novel">War novel</a></li>
<li><a href="Anti-war_movement" title="Anti-war movement">Anti-war movement</a></li>
<li><a href="Foot_drill" title="Foot drill">Foot drill</a></li>
<li><a href="War_song" title="War song">War song</a></li>
<li><a href="Military_uniform" title="Military uniform">Uniform</a></li>
<li><a href="Wargame" title="Wargame">Wargame</a></li>
<li><a href="Militarization" title="Militarization">Militarization</a> / <a href="Militarism" title="Militarism">Militarism</a>
<ul><li><a href="Antimilitarism" title="Antimilitarism">Antimilitarism</a></li></ul></li>
<li><a href="Camp_follower" title="Camp follower">Camp follower</a></li></ul></div></div></td>
</tr><tr><td class="sidebar-content">
<div class="sidebar-list mw-collapsible mw-collapsed"><div class="sidebar-list-title" style="background:transparent;border-top:1px solid #aaa;;color: var(--color-base)">Books</div><div class="sidebar-list-content mw-collapsible-content">
<ul><li><a href="Seven_Military_Classics" title="Seven Military Classics">Seven Military Classics</a>
<ul><li><a href="The_Art_of_War" title="The Art of War">The Art of War</a></li></ul></li>
<li><a href="De_re_militari" title="De re militari">De re militari</a></li>
<li><a href="Strategemata" title="Strategemata">Strategemata</a></li></ul></div></div></td>
</tr><tr><td class="sidebar-content">
<div class="sidebar-list mw-collapsible mw-collapsed"><div class="sidebar-list-title" style="background:transparent;border-top:1px solid #aaa;;color: var(--color-base)">Related</div><div class="sidebar-list-content mw-collapsible-content">
<ul><li><a href="Women_in_war" title="Women in war">Women in war</a></li>
<li><a href="War_resister" title="War resister">War resister</a></li>
<li><a href="War_studies" title="War studies">War studies</a></li>
<li><a href="Horses_in_warfare" title="Horses in warfare">Horses in warfare</a></li>
<li><a href="Wartime_sexual_violence" title="Wartime sexual violence">Wartime sexual violence</a></li>
<li><a href="Fifth_column" title="Fifth column">Fifth column</a></li>
<li><a href="Mercenary" title="Mercenary">Mercenary</a></li>
<li><a href="Pacifism" title="Pacifism">Pacifism</a></li>
<li><a href="Privateer" title="Privateer">Privateer</a></li>
<li><a href="Private_military_company" title="Private military company">Private military company</a></li>
<li><a href="Soldiers_are_murderers" title="Soldiers are murderers">Soldiers are murderers</a></li></ul></div></div></td>
</tr><tr><td class="sidebar-content">
<div class="sidebar-list mw-collapsible mw-collapsed"><div class="sidebar-list-title" style="background:transparent;border-top:1px solid #aaa;;color: var(--color-base)">Lists</div><div class="sidebar-list-content mw-collapsible-content">
<ul><li><a href="Lists_of_battles" title="Lists of battles">Battles</a></li>
<li><a href="List_of_military_occupations" title="List of military occupations">Military occupations</a></li>
<li><a href="List_of_established_military_terms" title="List of established military terms">Military terms</a></li>
<li><a href="List_of_military_operations" title="List of military operations">Operations</a></li>
<li><a href="List_of_sieges" title="List of sieges">Sieges</a></li>
<li><a href="List_of_war_crimes" title="List of war crimes">War crimes</a></li>
<li><a href="Outline_of_war#Wars" title="Outline of war">Wars</a></li>
<li><a href="Lists_of_weapons" title="Lists of weapons">Weapons</a></li>
<li><a href="List_of_military_writers" title="List of military writers">Writers</a></li></ul></div></div></td>
</tr><tr><td class="sidebar-navbar"><style data-mw-deduplicate="TemplateStyles:r1239400231">
/* start https://en.wikipedia.org/ */
.mw-parser-output .navbar{display:inline;font-size:88%;font-weight:normal}.mw-parser-output .navbar-collapse{float:left;text-align:left}.mw-parser-output .navbar-boxtext{word-spacing:0}.mw-parser-output .navbar ul{display:inline-block;white-space:nowrap;line-height:inherit}.mw-parser-output .navbar-brackets::before{margin-right:-0.125em;content:"[ "}.mw-parser-output .navbar-brackets::after{margin-left:-0.125em;content:" ]"}.mw-parser-output .navbar li{word-spacing:-0.125em}.mw-parser-output .navbar a>span,.mw-parser-output .navbar a>abbr{text-decoration:inherit}.mw-parser-output .navbar-mini abbr{font-variant:small-caps;border-bottom:none;text-decoration:none;cursor:inherit}.mw-parser-output .navbar-ct-full{font-size:114%;margin:0 7em}.mw-parser-output .navbar-ct-mini{font-size:114%;margin:0 4em}html.skin-theme-clientpref-night .mw-parser-output .navbar li a abbr{color:var(--color-base)!important}@media(prefers-color-scheme:dark){html.skin-theme-clientpref-os .mw-parser-output .navbar li a abbr{color:var(--color-base)!important}}@media print{.mw-parser-output .navbar{display:none!important}}
/* end https://en.wikipedia.org/ */
</style></td></tr></tbody></table>
<p>A <b>defensive war</b> (<a href="German_language" title="German language">German</a>: <i lang="de">Verteidigungskrieg<sup id="cite_ref-Zahl2010_1-0" class="reference"><a href="#cite_note-Zahl2010-1"><span class="cite-bracket">[</span>1<span class="cite-bracket">]</span></a></sup></i>) is one of the causes that justify <a href="War" title="War">war</a> by the criteria of the <a href="Just_War" class="mw-redirect" title="Just War">Just War</a> tradition. It means a war where at least one nation is mainly trying to defend itself from another, as opposed to a war where both sides are trying to invade and conquer each other.
</p><p>The right to <a href="Self-defence_in_international_law" title="Self-defence in international law">self-defence in international law</a> is enshrined in <a href="Chapter_VII_of_the_United_Nations_Charter" title="Chapter VII of the United Nations Charter">Chapter VII</a>, Article 51 of the <a href="Charter_of_the_United_Nations" title="Charter of the United Nations">UN Charter</a>:
</p>
<blockquote><p>Nothing in the present Charter shall impair the inherent right of collective or individual self-defense if an armed attack occurs against a member of the <a href="United_Nations" title="United Nations">United Nations</a>, until the <a href="United_Nations_Security_Council" title="United Nations Security Council">Security Council</a> has taken the measures necessary to maintain international peace and security. Measures taken by members in exercise of this right of self-defense shall be immediately reported to the Security Council and shall not in any way affect the authority and responsibility of the Security Council under the present Charter to take at any time such action as it deems necessary in order to maintain or restore international peace and security.</p></blockquote>
<meta property="mw:PageProp/toc">
<div class="mw-heading mw-heading2"><h2 id="History">History</h2></div>
<p>American supporters of the war against the British argued that the <a href="War_of_1812" title="War of 1812">War of 1812</a> was a defensive war, citing British harassment of American merchant shipping and <a href="Impressment" title="Impressment">impressment</a> of American sailors on the <a href="International_water" class="mw-redirect" title="International water">high seas</a> as well as armed support to Indian tribes resisting American expansion in the <a href="Midwestern_United_States" title="Midwestern United States">Midwest</a> in order to create a pro-British <a href="Indian_barrier_state" title="Indian barrier state">Indian barrier state</a>.<sup id="cite_ref-Bickham2012_2-0" class="reference"><a href="#cite_note-Bickham2012-2"><span class="cite-bracket">[</span>2<span class="cite-bracket">]</span></a></sup><sup id="cite_ref-FOOTNOTEStagg,_Madison's_War4_3-0" class="reference"><a href="#cite_note-FOOTNOTEStagg,_Madison's_War4-3"><span class="cite-bracket">[</span>3<span class="cite-bracket">]</span></a></sup><sup id="cite_ref-4" class="reference"><a href="#cite_note-4"><span class="cite-bracket">[</span>4<span class="cite-bracket">]</span></a></sup><sup id="cite_ref-5" class="reference"><a href="#cite_note-5"><span class="cite-bracket">[</span>5<span class="cite-bracket">]</span></a></sup><sup id="cite_ref-6" class="reference"><a href="#cite_note-6"><span class="cite-bracket">[</span>6<span class="cite-bracket">]</span></a></sup><sup id="cite_ref-7" class="reference"><a href="#cite_note-7"><span class="cite-bracket">[</span>7<span class="cite-bracket">]</span></a></sup>
</p>
<div class="mw-heading mw-heading2"><h2 id="Views">Views</h2></div>
<p>The Islamic scholar <a href="Sufyan_al-Thawri" title="Sufyan al-Thawri">Sufyan al-Thawri</a> (716–778), who was called by <a href="Majid_Khadduri" title="Majid Khadduri">Majid Khadduri</a> (1909–2007) a pacifist, maintained that <i><a href="Jihad" title="Jihad">jihad</a></i> (holy war) was only a defensive war.<sup id="cite_ref-8" class="reference"><a href="#cite_note-8"><span class="cite-bracket">[</span>8<span class="cite-bracket">]</span></a></sup>
</p>
<div class="mw-heading mw-heading2"><h2 id="See_also">See also</h2></div>
<ul><li><i><a href="Battleplan" title="Battleplan">Battleplan</a></i> (documentary TV series)</li></ul>
<div class="mw-heading mw-heading2"><h2 id="References">References</h2></div>
<style data-mw-deduplicate="TemplateStyles:r1239543626">
/* start https://en.wikipedia.org/ */
.mw-parser-output .reflist{margin-bottom:0.5em;list-style-type:decimal}@media screen{.mw-parser-output .reflist{font-size:90%}}.mw-parser-output .reflist .references{font-size:100%;margin-bottom:0;list-style-type:inherit}.mw-parser-output .reflist-columns-2{column-width:30em}.mw-parser-output .reflist-columns-3{column-width:25em}.mw-parser-output .reflist-columns{margin-top:0.3em}.mw-parser-output .reflist-columns ol{margin-top:0}.mw-parser-output .reflist-columns li{page-break-inside:avoid;break-inside:avoid-column}.mw-parser-output .reflist-upper-alpha{list-style-type:upper-alpha}.mw-parser-output .reflist-upper-roman{list-style-type:upper-roman}.mw-parser-output .reflist-lower-alpha{list-style-type:lower-alpha}.mw-parser-output .reflist-lower-greek{list-style-type:lower-greek}.mw-parser-output .reflist-lower-roman{list-style-type:lower-roman}
/* end https://en.wikipedia.org/ */
</style><div class="reflist">
<div class="mw-references-wrap"><ol class="references">
<li id="cite_note-Zahl2010-1"><span class="mw-cite-backlink"><b><a href="#cite_ref-Zahl2010_1-0">^</a></b></span> <span class="reference-text"><style data-mw-deduplicate="TemplateStyles:r1238218222">
/* start https://en.wikipedia.org/ */
.mw-parser-output cite.citation{font-style:inherit;word-wrap:break-word}.mw-parser-output .citation q{quotes:"\"""\"""'""'"}.mw-parser-output .citation:target{background-color:rgba(0,127,255,0.133)}.mw-parser-output .id-lock-free.id-lock-free a{background:url("./mw/Lock-green.svg")right 0.1em center/9px no-repeat}.mw-parser-output .id-lock-limited.id-lock-limited a,.mw-parser-output .id-lock-registration.id-lock-registration a{background:url("./mw/Lock-gray-alt-2.svg")right 0.1em center/9px no-repeat}.mw-parser-output .id-lock-subscription.id-lock-subscription a{background:url("./mw/Lock-red-alt-2.svg")right 0.1em center/9px no-repeat}.mw-parser-output .cs1-ws-icon a{background:url("./mw/Wikisource-logo.svg")right 0.1em center/12px no-repeat}body:not(.skin-timeless):not(.skin-minerva) .mw-parser-output .id-lock-free a,body:not(.skin-timeless):not(.skin-minerva) .mw-parser-output .id-lock-limited a,body:not(.skin-timeless):not(.skin-minerva) .mw-parser-output .id-lock-registration a,body:not(.skin-timeless):not(.skin-minerva) .mw-parser-output .id-lock-subscription a,body:not(.skin-timeless):not(.skin-minerva) .mw-parser-output .cs1-ws-icon a{background-size:contain;padding:0 1em 0 0}.mw-parser-output .cs1-code{color:inherit;background:inherit;border:none;padding:inherit}.mw-parser-output .cs1-hidden-error{display:none;color:var(--color-error,#d33)}.mw-parser-output .cs1-visible-error{color:var(--color-error,#d33)}.mw-parser-output .cs1-maint{display:none;color:#085;margin-left:0.3em}.mw-parser-output .cs1-kern-left{padding-left:0.2em}.mw-parser-output .cs1-kern-right{padding-right:0.2em}.mw-parser-output .citation .mw-selflink{font-weight:inherit}@media screen{.mw-parser-output .cs1-format{font-size:95%}html.skin-theme-clientpref-night .mw-parser-output .cs1-maint{color:#18911f}}@media screen and (prefers-color-scheme:dark){html.skin-theme-clientpref-os .mw-parser-output .cs1-maint{color:#18911f}}
/* end https://en.wikipedia.org/ */
</style><cite id="CITEREFSimeon_Zahl2010" class="citation book cs1">Simeon Zahl (25 November 2010). <a rel="nofollow" class="external text" href="https://books.google.com/books?id=ioGw0zPbjTQC&pg=PA138"><i>Pneumatology and Theology of the Cross in the Preaching of Christoph Friedrich Blumhardt: The Holy Spirit Between Wittenberg and Azusa Street</i></a>. A&C Black. pp. 138–. <a href="ISBN_(identifier)" class="mw-redirect" title="ISBN (identifier)">ISBN</a> <bdi>978-0-567-64591-3</bdi>.</cite></span>
</li>
<li id="cite_note-Bickham2012-2"><span class="mw-cite-backlink"><b><a href="#cite_ref-Bickham2012_2-0">^</a></b></span> <span class="reference-text"><cite id="CITEREFTroy_Bickham2012" class="citation book cs1">Troy Bickham (1 June 2012). <a rel="nofollow" class="external text" href="https://books.google.com/books?id=QM755oY5k98C&pg=PT95"><i>The Weight of Vengeance: The United States, the British Empire, and the War of 1812</i></a>. Oxford University Press. pp. 95–. <a href="ISBN_(identifier)" class="mw-redirect" title="ISBN (identifier)">ISBN</a> <bdi>978-0-19-994262-6</bdi>.</cite></span>
</li>
<li id="cite_note-FOOTNOTEStagg,_Madison's_War4-3"><span class="mw-cite-backlink"><b><a href="#cite_ref-FOOTNOTEStagg,_Madison's_War4_3-0">^</a></b></span> <span class="reference-text"><a href="#CITEREFStagg,_Madison's_War">Stagg, Madison's War</a>, p. 4.</span>
</li>
<li id="cite_note-4"><span class="mw-cite-backlink"><b><a href="#cite_ref-4">^</a></b></span> <span class="reference-text"><cite id="CITEREFCarlisle_and_Golson" class="citation book cs1">Carlisle, Rodney P.; Golson, J. Geoffrey, eds. (2007). <a rel="nofollow" class="external text" href="https://archive.org/details/turningpointsact00carl_912"><i>Manifest Destiny and the Expansion of America</i></a>. ABC-CLIO. p. <a rel="nofollow" class="external text" href="https://archive.org/details/turningpointsact00carl_912/page/n64">44</a>. <a href="ISBN_(identifier)" class="mw-redirect" title="ISBN (identifier)">ISBN</a> <bdi>9781851098330</bdi>.</cite></span>
</li>
<li id="cite_note-5"><span class="mw-cite-backlink"><b><a href="#cite_ref-5">^</a></b></span> <span class="reference-text"><cite id="CITEREFPratt1925" class="citation book cs1">Pratt, Julius W. (1925). <i>Expansionists of 1812</i>.</cite></span>
</li>
<li id="cite_note-6"><span class="mw-cite-backlink"><b><a href="#cite_ref-6">^</a></b></span> <span class="reference-text"><cite id="CITEREFHeidlerHeidler" class="citation book cs1">Heidler, David; Heidler, Jeanne T. <i>The War of 1812</i>. p. 4.</cite></span>
</li>
<li id="cite_note-7"><span class="mw-cite-backlink"><b><a href="#cite_ref-7">^</a></b></span> <span class="reference-text"><cite id="CITEREFTucker" class="citation book cs1">Tucker, Spencer. <i>The Encyclopedia of the War of 1812</i>. p. 236.</cite></span>
</li>
<li id="cite_note-8"><span class="mw-cite-backlink"><b><a href="#cite_ref-8">^</a></b></span> <span class="reference-text"><cite id="CITEREFA._Al-Dawoody2011" class="citation book cs1">A. Al-Dawoody (2011). <a rel="nofollow" class="external text" href="https://books.google.com/books?id=Bd5dAQAAQBAJ&pg=PP80"><i>The Islamic Law of War: Justifications and Regulations</i></a>. Springer. p. 80. <a href="ISBN_(identifier)" class="mw-redirect" title="ISBN (identifier)">ISBN</a> <bdi>978-0-230-11808-9</bdi>.</cite></span>
</li>
</ol></div></div>
<div class="mw-heading mw-heading2"><h2 id="Sources">Sources</h2></div>
<ul><li><cite id="CITEREFCécile_FabreSeth_Lazar2014" class="citation book cs1">Cécile Fabre; <a href="Seth_Lazar" title="Seth Lazar">Seth Lazar</a> (20 February 2014). <a rel="nofollow" class="external text" href="https://books.google.com/books?id=g8TRAgAAQBAJ&pg=PA129"><i>The Morality of Defensive War</i></a>. OUP Oxford. pp. 129–. <a href="ISBN_(identifier)" class="mw-redirect" title="ISBN (identifier)">ISBN</a> <bdi>978-0-19-150531-7</bdi>.</cite></li>
<li><cite id="CITEREFDorset_Michael2016" class="citation book cs1">Dorset Michael (26 April 2016). <a rel="nofollow" class="external text" href="https://books.google.com/books?id=GW30jwEACAAJ"><i>An Essay on Defensive War, and a Constitutional Militia: With an Account of Queen Elizabeth's Arrangements for Resisting the Projected Invasion in the Year 1588: Taken from Authentic Records in the British Museum, and Other Collections</i></a>. BiblioLife. <a href="ISBN_(identifier)" class="mw-redirect" title="ISBN (identifier)">ISBN</a> <bdi>978-1-354-70317-5</bdi>.</cite></li>
<li><cite id="CITEREFRobert_GreeneJoost_Elffers2007" class="citation book cs1">Robert Greene; Joost Elffers (14 December 2007). <a rel="nofollow" class="external text" href="https://books.google.com/books?id=dBldXrykXI8C&pg=PT27"><i>The 33 Strategies of War</i></a>. Penguin Publishing Group. pp. 27–. <a href="ISBN_(identifier)" class="mw-redirect" title="ISBN (identifier)">ISBN</a> <bdi>978-1-101-14734-4</bdi>.</cite></li>
<li><cite id="CITEREFStagg,_Madison's_War" class="citation book cs1">Stagg, J. C. A. (1983). <a rel="nofollow" class="external text" href="https://archive.org/details/mrmadisonswarpol0000stag"><i>Mr Madison's War: Politics, Diplomacy and Warfare in the Early American Republic, 1783–1830</i></a>. Princeton University Press]. <a href="ISBN_(identifier)" class="mw-redirect" title="ISBN (identifier)">ISBN</a> <bdi>0691047022</bdi>.</cite></li></ul>
<style data-mw-deduplicate="TemplateStyles:r1271159938">
/* start https://en.wikipedia.org/ */
.mw-parser-output .asbox{position:relative;overflow:hidden}.mw-parser-output .asbox table{background:transparent}.mw-parser-output .asbox p{margin:0}.mw-parser-output .asbox p+p{margin-top:0.25em}.mw-parser-output .asbox-body{font-style:italic}.mw-parser-output .asbox-note{font-size:smaller}.mw-parser-output .asbox .navbar{position:absolute;top:-0.75em;right:1em;display:none}.mw-parser-output :not(p):not(.asbox)+style+.asbox,.mw-parser-output :not(p):not(.asbox)+link+.asbox{margin-top:3em}
/* end https://en.wikipedia.org/ */
</style>
</div><!--htdig_noindex--><div><div class="zim-footer">
This article is issued from <a class="external text" title="Last edited on 2024-10-30" href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/?title=Defensive_war&oldid=1254348899">Wikipedia</a>. The text is available under <a class="external text" href="https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/4.0/deed.en">Creative Commons Attribution-Share Alike 4.0</a> unless otherwise noted. Additional terms may apply for the media files.
</div>
</div><!--/htdig_noindex--></div>
</div>
</main>
</div>
</div>
</div>
</body></html>