The concept formerly covered only military commando-like actions against strategic or tactical targets; nowadays it includes any form of action with a military purpose, yet not necessarily involving the use of force or violence: restoring light, water supply, cleaning the streets, providing school equipment, reestablishing legitimate local authorities, in order to improve the morale of the civilian population and avert public discontent, disturbances and therefore political instability and violence, are part of the civil affairs aspect of a special operations mission.