war's way of solving a ground problem from an altitude where you can't see the ground.
means a military attack using aircraft or missiles to hit a target without deploying troops on the ground.
from first used seriously in WWI reconnaissance-turned-bombing runs, but it came of age in WWII strategic bombing campaigns, where planners realized you could break a country's will from the sky before ever landing a boot on it.
operation linebacker — us bombing of north vietnam, 1972, meant to force peace talks
nato libya campaign — 2011 strikes that toppled gaddafi without ground invasion
gaza airstrikes — repeated israeli campaigns hitting dense urban targets since 2008
desert storm — 1991 gulf war opened with a 42-day air campaign before any ground assault