ethnic cleansing
noun /ˌeθnɪk ˈklenzɪŋ/
  /ˌeθnɪk ˈklenzɪŋ/
 [uncountable]- (used especially in news reports) the policy of forcing the people of a particular race or religion to leave an area or a country
- All the speakers at the conference condemned the so-called ‘ethnic cleansing’.
 - He described the tragic plight of the victims of ethnic cleansing.
 
Collocations War and peaceWar and peaceStarting a warTopics War and conflictc2- declare/make/wage war (on somebody/something)
 - go to war (against/with somebody)
 - cause/spark/provoke/foment/quell unrest
 - incite/lead/crush/suppress a revolt/rebellion
 - launch/mount/carry out a surprise/terrorist attack
 - prevent/halt/represent an escalation of the conflict
 - be torn apart by/be on the brink of civil war
 - enter/invade/occupy somebody’s territory
 - lead/launch/resist/repel an invasion
 
- adopt/develop/implement/pursue a military strategy
 - carry out/execute/perform military operations/manoeuvres
 - send/deploy/station/pull back/withdraw troops
 - go on/fly/carry out a reconnaissance/rescue mission
 - train/equip/deploy army/military/combat units
 - lead/launch/conduct a raid/a surprise attack/an (air/airborne/amphibious) assault (on somebody)
 - employ/use guerrilla tactics
 - conduct/wage biological/guerrilla warfare
 - fight/crush/defeat the rebels/the insurgency
 - suffer/inflict a crushing defeat
 - achieve/win a decisive victory
 - halt/stop the British/German/Russian advance
 - order/force a retreat
 
- join/serve in the army/navy/air force
 - be/go/remain/serve on active duty
 - serve/complete/return from a tour of duty
 - be sent to the front (line)
 - attack/strike/engage/defeat/kill/destroy the enemy
 - see/report/be engaged in heavy fighting
 - call for/be met with armed resistance
 - come under heavy/machine-gun/mortar fire
 - fire a machine-gun/mortar shells/rockets (at somebody/something)
 - shoot a rifle/a pistol/bullets/missiles
 - launch/fire a cruise/ballistic/anti-tank missile
 - use biological/chemical/nuclear weapons
 - inflict/suffer/sustain heavy losses/casualties
 - be hit/killed by enemy/friendly/artillery fire
 - become/be held as a prisoner of war
 
- harm/kill/target/protect innocent/unarmed civilians
 - cause/avoid/limit/minimize civilian casualties/collateral damage
 - impose/enforce/lift a curfew
 - engage in/be a victim of ethnic cleansing
 - be sent to an internment/a concentration camp
 - accept/house/resettle refugees fleeing from war
 - fear/threaten military/violent reprisals
 - commit/be accused of war crimes/crimes against humanity/genocide
 
- make/bring/win/achieve/maintain/promote peace
 - call for/negotiate/broker/declare a ceasefire/a temporary truce
 - sign a ceasefire agreement
 - call for/bring/put an end to hostilities
 - demand/negotiate/accept the surrender of somebody/something
 - establish/send (in) a peacekeeping force
 - negotiate/conclude/ratify/sign/accept/reject/break/violate a peace treaty