• The Pentagon has issued a new directive expanding the role of conventional forces in irregular warfare.
• The instruction updates the definition of irregular warfare to include conventional forces.
• The move aims to leverage the full conventional might of the US military to counter adversaries.
• The directive may signal a shift in the US military's approach to competition and conflict.

This development may indicate the US military's growing recognition of the importance of irregular warfare in the gray zone. The expanded scope of the instruction could lead to increased collaboration between conventional and special operations forces, potentially enhancing the US military's ability to counter adversaries. However, the success of this approach remains uncertain, and the lack of clear incentives for conventional forces to engage in irregular warfare may hinder its implementation.