Is there a difference between airstrikes and war?

War is an official declaration given by Congress. It allows for Congressional funding. The War Powers Act however, gives the president a way of waging war without calling it that.

When people discuss "war with ISIL", they tend to mean that they want a full-blown military operation with boots on the ground, sort of like what we just pulled out of after being in Iraq and Afghanistan for so long.

According to press releases, the current strategy is to continue with airstrikes while developing a better plan of action for dealing with the group (which may entail larger scale combat operations).

The concept of the official declaration of war is totally obsolete in this day and age - countries simply do not do that anymore.

War is simply the use of force to achieve political goals. Airstrikes are a method of applying force.

Airstrikes are part of warfare. War is a conflict carried out by states or non-state actors in order to achieve political objectives, which means you have to apply the use of force, including airstrikes, as part of war.

Airstrikes take place in wars. War is the overall battle. Airstrikes are attacks.

"War" has legal defintions.

Technically the US hasn't declared "War" since 1941

NO there is NO Difference...

If you are dropping Bombs on someone...

You are at WAR with them...

Just in words ...