What constitutes a hybrid conflict?

A hybrid conflict constitutes a warfare approach that combines conventional military tactics with unconventional methods, such as terrorism, cyber warfare, information operations, and economic pressure, to achieve strategic objectives. It often involves state and non-state actors employing a wide range of tools simultaneously and in a coordinated manner to exploit vulnerabilities and achieve asymmetric advantages. The defining characteristic is the blurring of lines between traditional warfare, irregular warfare, and other forms of coercion. Hybrid conflicts often seek to operate below the threshold of detection or response that would trigger a conventional military response, making attribution difficult and complicating the response options for the targeted state. For example, a hybrid conflict might involve a state using cyberattacks to disrupt an adversary's infrastructure, while simultaneously supporting insurgent groups to destabilize the government and conducting disinformation campaigns to undermine public support for the targeted state. This coordinated use of conventional and unconventional tactics can create a complex and challenging environment for the targeted state, making it difficult to respond effectively. The use of deniable assets and proxies allows the aggressor to maintain plausible deniability and avoid direct confrontation, further complicating the situation.