shooting war

American  

noun

1. open conflict between hostile nations involving direct military engagements.

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Example Sentences

Meanwhile, Taiwan and the U.S. will also have to prepare for a challenge short of a shooting war.

From The Wall Street Journal

The last thing he wants to do right now is to commit US combat troops and air power to a notional unstable ceasefire line which has the potential to erupt into a shooting war that drags in Nato forces.

From BBC

When I left London almost two weeks ago after the rebel coalition captured Aleppo - a stunning victory dwarfed by what followed - I thought I would be reporting a shooting war.

From BBC

Presidential elections rarely hinge on questions of foreign policy, except when the United States is in a shooting war.

From Los Angeles Times

The key question here is whether this all drags in the US, leading to a full-scale shooting war between Iran and US forces in the region.

From BBC