New Delhi: A surgical strike is a military attack which is intended to result in only damage to the intended legitimate military or terrorist target, and no or minimal collateral damage to surrounding structures, vehicles, buildings, or the general public infrastructure and utilities.
In other words, a swift and targeted attack with the aim of minimum collateral damage to the nearby areas and civilians is a surgical strike. Neutralisation of targets with surgical strikes also prevents escalation to a full blown war. Surgical strike attacks can be carried out via air raids, airdropping special operation teams or a swift ground operation.
Precision bombing is another example of a surgical strike carried out by aircraft — it can be contrasted against carpet bombing, the latter which results in high collateral damage and a wide range of destruction over an affected area which may or may not include high civilian casualties.
