Cordon and search is a military tactic to cordon off an area and search the premises for

weapon A weapon, arm or armament is any implement or device that can be used to deter, threaten, inflict physical damage, harm, or kill. Weapons are used to increase the efficacy and efficiency of activities such as hunting, crime, law enforcement, s ...

s or

insurgent An insurgency is a violent, armed rebellion against authority waged by small, lightly armed bands who practice guerrilla warfare from primarily rural base areas. The key descriptive feature of insurgency is its asymmetric nature: small irre ...

s. It is one of the basic

counterinsurgency Counterinsurgency (COIN) is "the totality of actions aimed at defeating irregular forces". The Oxford English Dictionary defines counterinsurgency as any "military or political action taken against the activities of guerrillas or revolutionari ...

operations. Two types of cordon and search operations are cordon and knockChronology: How the Mosul raid unfolded
Retrieved 28.07.2005. and cordon and kick (or cordon and enter). In a ''cordon and knock'' operation, counterinsurgency forces assemble around an area to provide security ("cordon") and then obtain permission to search the area from residents ("knock"). The occupants may be asked to leave buildings prior to the search, to avoid physical contact and conflict between the search party and the building occupants. This is called a ''tactical callout''. A ''cordon and ask'' operation involves the assistance of local authorities. If permission is denied but the residents are thought to be friendly or neutral, counterinsurgency force leaders may decide not to search an area. A ''cordon and kick'' or ''cordon and enter'' operation is more forceful than cordon and knock. It is performed without obtaining permission of the occupants. It may be done because permission is not given for a cordon and knock operation; however, if resistance is expected, a cordon and kick operation may be planned from the start. The type of force used to enter the building may range from simply opening a door to using explosives. Cordon and knock is a relatively new technique in

military operation A military operation is the coordinated military actions of a state, or a non-state actor, in response to a developing situation. These actions are designed as a military plan to resolve the situation in the state or actor's favor. Operations ...

s. It has taken over the old term of a simple house search. It is part of new doctrine called Stability and Support Operations or SASO. It is a technique used where there is no hard intelligence of weapons in the house and therefore is less intense than a normal house search. It is used in urban neighborhoods. The purpose of the mission is to search a house with as little inconvenience to the resident family as possible.

References

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Chronology: How the Mosul raid unfolded
Accessed 28.07.2005 Military tactics Articles containing video clips Search procedures

See also

References