Who is considered an adversary in military terminology?

In military terminology, an adversary is defined as a potentially hostile entity that poses a threat to friendly forces. This includes any opponent or enemy that can engage in conflict or confrontation against military objectives. Understanding this concept is crucial for military planning and operational strategy, as identifying who the adversary is helps in assessing threat levels, developing appropriate tactics, and allocating resources effectively.

In the context of the other choices, a friendly ally is someone who collaborates with military forces, focusing on shared objectives rather than opposition. A neutral party does not take sides in a conflict and is not considered an adversary, as they remain uninvolved and do not pose a threat. Similarly, a civilian population is often protected under international law and their status is generally seen as non-combative, thus they do not fall into the category of adversaries either.