What is conflict & war?
A conflict is a fight between armed troops.
War is the hostility towards other parties issued
officially by governments/states. Conflicts are part of war, though not every war sees actual conflict, nor is every conflict connected to war...
Confusing ???

To civilians
without military background or politicians
without military background...if someone drops a bomb on your house, street, community, village, camp, or whatever...you're at war especially if it occurs multiple times regardless of who started it first. Yet, you earn the right to call it whatever you want.
In contrast, to a soldier or ex-military, a government that officially declares WAR on a group, state, or country...it's a war.
With that said, as an ex-military soldier...I knew damn well if my country was at WAR or in a CONFLICT even if I was not directly involved. Yet, if you're sent in on a secret mission to rescue someone(s), engage a group that's designated as a terrorist group or whatever...that's a MISSION within a country you may or may not be at WAR with.
It becomes fuzzy if the government sent you on a mission but that same government has not announced it...some may later consider that a WAR or just an attack(s).
Also, I will say this...it doesn't matter to the family, friends, neighbors, fellow soldiers, or someone you do not know who is injured, killed, or murdered...
WHY in the fuck does someone need a definition when we all know what it is if you're the one directly involved ???
Yet, if you're not directly involved...I wouldn't waste too much time trying to define it by playing armchair quarterbacking. Let the politicians do that in their paper write-ups. Just as importantly, let the conspiracy theorists play the blame game.
wrbtrader