Published on 04 Feb 2025
Hybrid warfare
Hybrid warfare integrates conventional military strategies, irregular warfare, information warfare, cyber operations, economic coercion, and political manipulation to attain strategic goals. This multifaceted approach concurrently exploits various domains, capitalizing on vulnerabilities to achieve specific outcomes.
Features of hybrid warfare
Multidimensional tactics: Hybrid warfare employs a combination of military, non-military, and unconventional tactics across various domains to create confusion and overwhelm the adversary.
Example: Russia's annexation of Crimea in 2014 involved a mix of conventional military actions, information warfare, and covert support for local separatist groups.
Information manipulation: Dissemination of false or misleading information through media, social networks, and other communication channels is a key aspect of hybrid warfare.
Example: Disinformation campaigns during the 2016 U.S. presidential election, allegedly conducted by Russia, aimed to sow discord and influence public opinion.
Use of proxy forces: Hybrid warfare frequently employs proxy forces, militias, or insurgents to carry out operations that can be attributed to non-state actors, creating plausible deniability.
Example: The support given by Iran to Houthis in Yemen is part of their proxy war against Saudi Arabia.
Economic pressure: Economic measures, such as sanctions or trade restrictions, can be part of hybrid warfare to weaken a target's economy and influence their decision-making.
Example: Sanctions imposed on Iran by the USA is part of their hybrid strategy to restrict Iranian threat.
Psychological operation: Hybrid warfare involves psychological manipulation to influence perceptions, sow discord, and weaken the adversary's resolve.
Use of cyber operations: Cyberattacks, such as hacking, ransomware, and information theft, are frequently employed in hybrid warfare to disrupt, damage, or gather intelligence.
Example: Minister of Power acknowledged that Chinese hackers targeted Indian power grid in Ladakh thrice.
Simultaneous action: Attacks on various fronts are done simultaneously making it very difficult to counter.
Example: During the conflict between Russia and Ukraine, cyber-attacks targeting Ukrainian government websites were accompanied by physical military actions in the conflict region.
How to counter hybrid warfare
Adopt multinational frameworks: Since hybrid warfare is an international issue there should be a coherent cooperative approach through multinational frameworks to protect collective interest.
Institutional measures: Self-assessment of critical vulnerabilities and ensuring regular maintenance of infrastructure to plug loopholes.
Strengthen democracy: To prevent the collapse of democratic system owing to fake news, institutions protecting democratic credentials should be protected.
Media literacy: Ensure the actions of the media are more ethical and use them as a tool to educate the public on the issue.
Better training to the forces: Make modifications to the training modules and make officers adept at using technology to counter hybrid techniques.
The rising national security imperative has increased the scope of both cyber and hybrid warfare. So, some of these measures must be immediately undertaken both at the national and at the international arena to address these threats.
Security
Hybrid warfare
Cyber security
cyber warfare
General Studies Paper 3
Cybersecurity