What constitutes surgical strikes?
A surgical strike in military terms is an operation that is intended to take out a specific target, with no or limited collateral damage.
In Army’s terms, it is a fast operation carried out by a small unit, or it could be a well aimed missile. By the Air Force, it can be an aircraft targeting a single building or vehicle, as opposed to carpet bombing an area.
Surgical strikes are the alternative to sending in troops and tanks, creating a situation that could escalate to full-blown war. Governments often deny them or deal with the aftermath diplomatically.