An invasion is a military action consisting of armed forces of one geopolitical entity entering territory controlled by another such entity, generally with the objective of conquering territory or altering the established government. An invasion can be the cause of a war, it can be used as a part of a larger strategy to end a war, or it can constitute an entire war in and of itself.

The term usually connotes a strategic endeavor of substantial magnitude; because the goals of an invasion are usually large-scale and long-term, large forces are needed to hold territory and protect the interests of the invading entity. Smaller and lighter tactical infiltrations are not generally considered invasions, being more often classified as skirmishes, sorties, targeted killings, assassinations or reconnaissance in force. By definition, an invasion is an attack from outside forces. As such, rebellions, civil wars, coups d'etat, and internal acts of democide or other acts of oppression are generally not considered invasions.

Invasion as aggression

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After World War II, the Nuremberg Tribunal was convened to prosecute Nazi Germany officials for war crimes. In that context, the the concept of "invasion" was abstracted in principle as "aggression," to refer to such hostility itself as a violation of principles prohibiting war crimes. Germany had begun a campaign of offenses that included the invasions of almost all neighboring countries in Europe, including Poland, France, and Russia. According to the Tribunal, aggression is:

"the supreme international crime differing only from other war crimes in that it contains within itself the accumulated evil of the whole."

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