Military or government forces that fight against rebel groups or insurgencies trying to overthrow the established government.
From counter- (against) + insurgent (one who rises up against authority). Insurgent comes from Latin insurgere, meaning to rise up. The compound emerged in 20th-century military terminology.
The term gained prominence during the Cold War when Western powers trained and supported counterinsurgent forces in Vietnam, Afghanistan, and elsewhere—but these campaigns often had unintended consequences that shaped modern conflicts.
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