What is the military term for driving militants out of a city, and declaring the city completely militant-free?
I got an advice to use the word "cleansed", but I am not really convinced it is the right word.
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1Neutralize is one word. Also, the area is cleared of hostiles.– vickyaceCommented Apr 7, 2017 at 16:28
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Pacification is "to rid an area of terrorists or other enemies by military force or psychological persuasion".– Cascabel_StandWithUkraine_Commented Apr 7, 2017 at 16:37
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A less formal expression that is used is "taking out the trash".– fixer1234Commented Apr 7, 2017 at 23:45
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Occupation works– Phil SweetCommented Apr 11, 2017 at 2:29
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Cleanse has negative connotations because of the euphemism ethnic cleansing, used to refer to forced migrations and genocide in post-Yugoslav states in the 1990s. If you say an army is cleansing an area, you are associating them with war criminals. Purify has similar problems.– chosterCommented Apr 11, 2017 at 14:58
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1 Answer
expelled verb
to drive or force out or away; discharge or eject: for example, to expel air from the lungs; or to expel an invader from a country.
They expelled the militants from the city makes sense.
