airstrike
Attack from above
An airstrike is a military attack delivered by aircraft—bombers, fighter jets, helicopters, or drones dropping bombs or firing missiles at ground targets.
The term appears frequently in news coverage of armed conflicts: Coalition airstrikes targeted the weapons depot.
Also spelled air strike.
Self-guided airborne weapon
- bombExplosive device or disaster
- ordnanceMilitary weapons collectively
- munitionMilitary weapon or projectile
- warheadMunition's explosive section
explosive · guided · smart bomb · laser-guided · precision · cruise missile · cluster bomb · bunker buster
Armed raid outward
- raidSudden armed incursion
- bombingAttack with explosives
- bombardmentSustained projectile assault
- campaignOrganized effort toward goal
operation · engagement · assault · offensive · attack · mission · blitz · carpet bombing
Broken building fragments
- wreckageDestroyed remains of something
- craterImpact or volcanic basin
- ruinsDecayed structural remains
- devastationSevere widespread destruction
carnage · annihilation · obliteration · aftermath · casualties · collateral damage · shattered · razed
Explosive-delivery aircraft or saboteur
- fighterOne who engages in combat
- jetForced fluid stream
- droneUnmanned flying machine
- squadronMilitary aviation unit
pilot · interceptor · reconnaissance · gunship · warplane · stealth · F-16 · B-52
Reinforced subterranean stronghold
- sirenWailing alert device
- basementSubterranean building level
- undergroundBelow ground or countercultural
- refugePlace of safety
evacuation · alarm · civilian · safehouse · shelter · fallout · cover · hideout
Location-specifying number pairs
- reconnaissanceInformation-gathering before action
- intelligenceMental ability, cognitive capacity
- surveillanceSystematic observation of subjects
- satelliteOrbiting celestial body
radar · crosshairs · acquisition · lock-on · guidance · trajectory · accuracy · collateral
missile
Self-guided airborne weapon
- bombExplosive device or disaster
- ordnanceMilitary weapons collectively
- munitionMilitary weapon or projectile
warhead · explosive · guided · smart bomb · laser-guided · precision · cruise missile · cluster bomb · bunker buster · incendiary
sortie
Armed raid outward
- raidSudden armed incursion
- bombingAttack with explosives
- bombardmentSustained projectile assault
campaign · operation · engagement · assault · offensive · attack · mission · blitz · carpet bombing · retaliation
rubble
Broken building fragments
devastation · carnage · annihilation · obliteration · aftermath · casualties · collateral damage · shattered · razed · demolished
bomber
Explosive-delivery aircraft or saboteur
squadron · pilot · interceptor · reconnaissance · gunship · warplane · stealth · F-16 · B-52 · predator
bunker
Reinforced subterranean stronghold
- sirenWailing alert device
- basementSubterranean building level
- undergroundBelow ground or countercultural
refuge · evacuation · alarm · civilian · safehouse · shelter · fallout · cover · hideout · panic
coordinates
Location-specifying number pairs
- reconnaissanceInformation-gathering before action
- intelligenceMental ability, cognitive capacity
- surveillanceSystematic observation of subjects
satellite · radar · crosshairs · acquisition · lock-on · guidance · trajectory · accuracy · collateral · civilian
- Military Strikesprecision bombing, bombing run, bombing raid, rocket attack, sortie
- warfarebattle, combat, attack, war, armed conflict
- war violencemassacre, bombardment, bombing, shelling, combat
- Air Combatfighter pilot, bombing run, combat aircraft, bomb run, Sparrow
- air warfarebombing runs, dive bombing, precision bombing, saturation bombing, strategic bombing
- airstrikesbombing run, bombing raid, bombing, dive bombing, carpet bombing
airstrikeground assault
Attack by foot soldiers
ground attack · land invasion · naval bombardment · ground offensive · artillery barrage
airstrikeair defense
Protection from aerial attack
anti-aircraft defense · air cover · evacuation · humanitarian airlift · interception
airstrikeceasefire
Agreed halt to fighting
peace treaty · truce · peace talks · diplomatic negotiation · armistice