The term "air attack" refers to an offensive military action carried out by aircraft. This can involve dropping bombs, firing missiles or using other weapons systems from the air to target enemy forces, infrastructure or assets on the ground. Air attacks are often used in conjunction with other forms of military operations and can be employed for a variety of purposes such as strategic bombing, close air support, interdiction, or precision strikes. The phrase "air attack" is also sometimes used to describe an aggressive maneuver carried out by an aircraft while in flight, such as a dive-bombing run.