From Battle of Hydaspes in 326 BCE to 15th century England-France war, and Shivaji’s battles against Mughals, across time and geographies, smaller armies have taken on bigger ones by using low-cost, effective weapons & tactics. Iran’s doing the same against mighty US
Around 2,300 years ago, Chanakya wrote in his Arthashastra (paraphrased), “I shall create troubles in his fort…[and] cause him to sustain heavy loss of men and money…sow the seeds of dissension among his friends…cut off supplies and stores going to him…and compel him to make peace with me on my own terms.” He was, in essence, arguing that victory was not always achieved through swift conquest. More often, it came from the slow weakening of an adversary.