At some time, you must remove their power. Take away the tool they use.
This doesn’t mean you must control it, hold it, use it. All you have to do is render it useless to them, your enemy. This is sometimes possible by “poisoning the well,” other times it means you must “burn the bridges.”
No matter the tactic you use, the escalation must be controlled by the rebel. To win, you must move faster, while moving against your enemy only. Do not be manipulated into moving against your friends.