This study views tactical and strategic thinking in the information age through the lens of modern proxy war in order to conclude that the tenets of operational art, and the nesting of minor military actions within a broader national strategic framework, is imperative in a proxy conflict. Importantly, this extends to the selection of surrogate military forces and the need to fully conceive the implications of a proxy's success. The research proposes a new model for conceptualizing how minor military actions can have strategic impacts. These concepts are explored through a case study on the United States' proxy war against the Islamic State.

Approved for public release; distribution is unlimited. The opinions and conclusions expressed herein are those of the student-authors and do not necessarily represent the views of the U.S. Army Command and General Staff College or any other governmental agency. (References to these studies should include the foregoing statement.)