Definition
Military strategy of removing enemy forces from an area and then staying put to prevent them from returning—theoretically simple, practically exhausting.
Example Usage
The plan was to clear and hold the valley against insurgent counterattacks.
Origin
Modern counterinsurgency doctrine, prominent in recent conflicts
Fun Fact
The 'hold' part is consistently underestimated and overshadows the 'clear' part in terms of difficulty
Source: U.S. Army Field Manual on Counterinsurgency
Related Terms
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See “Clear and hold” in Corporate Speak, Gen-Z Slang, Pirate Speak, and more.
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