Watching the IDF (catch all)

[Rank amateur]

IMO withdrawal does not define any aspect of defeat.

I agree, but IMO when the attacker withdraws it does indicate that the defenders have successfully defended their territory.

The sole criteria I use to define defeat is permanent, collective, physical, and psychological withdrawal from combat. And that stands for COIN as well as larger conflicts.

I fully admit that I don't know the official definitions of many terms, and I appreciate being allowed to contribute even though I don't, but I think there's some problems with the word permanent. Germany's withdrawal from France in 1918 wasn't permanent.