Pre-dawn raid

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A pre-dawn raid is a military tactic that involves a group of people, usually military personnel, raiding a location in order to gain an upper hand in combat, retrieve an important document or file, or capture a specific person. The hostage is usually of high political influence or a leader of an opposing military institution.

Raid (military) military tactic or operational warfare mission which has a specific purpose

Raiding, also known as depredation, is a military tactic or operational warfare mission which has a specific purpose and is not normally intended to capture and hold a location but instead finish with the raiding force quickly retreating to a previous defended position prior to enemy forces being able to respond in a coordinated manner or formulate a counter-attack. A raiding group may consist of combatants specially trained in this tactic, such as commandos, or as a special mission assigned to any regular troops. Raids are often a standard tactic in irregular warfare, employed by warriors, guerrilla fighters or other irregular military forces. Some raids are large, for example the Sullivan Expedition.

Pre-dawn raids usually occur during the early morning (usually between one and four o'clock), when most civilians and military personnel are asleep. The force raiding then makes a covert entry across enemy lines into a civilian area or military encampment.

It is then the raiding army or force's goal to carry out the mission of capturing the person, file, or to kill some of the opposing army while they are left defenseless.

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