Ambush

An ambush, or a surprise attack,^[1] is a long-established military tactic. It is a surprise attack from a hidden position against an enemy.^[2] The enemy may be moving or have stopped. An ambush uses the element of surprise to confuse the enemy soldiers long enough to be successful.

Unlike other surprise attacks, the point of an ambush is not to gain territory.^[2] Instead, it may be used to harass an enemy. It may also be used to capture or destroy key assets (people, equipment, supplies, etc.).^[2]

1. ↑ Harrap's essential English Dictionary, eds. Elaine Higgleton; Anne Seaton (New Delhi: Allied Chambers (India), Ltd., 1996), p. 32
2. ↑ ^{2.0 2.1 2.2} Rick Baillergeon; John Sutherland. "Tactics 101 088: The Ambush, Part 1 – Fundamentals". Armchair General L.L.C. Retrieved 24 October 2015.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: multiple names: authors list (link)