surprise attack

English Thesaurus

1. an attack without warning (noun.act)

hypernym	:	attack, onrush, onset, onslaught,
definition	:	(military) an offensive against an enemy (using weapons) (noun.act)

hyponym	:	terrorist attack,
definition	:	a surprise attack involving the deliberate use of violence against civilians in the hope of attaining political or religious aims (noun.act)

hyponym	:	ambuscade, ambush, lying in wait, trap,
definition	:	the act of concealing yourself and lying in wait to attack by surprise (noun.act)

hyponym	:	pre-emptive strike,
definition	:	a surprise attack that is launched in order to prevent the enemy from doing it to you (noun.act)