The most common and most likely answer to this crossword clue is the 9 letter word AIRSTRIKE
I've seen this crossword clue in The Guardian
A
I
R
S
T
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K
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More clues leading to the result AIRSTRIKE
Buddy explains!

The straight part
We know that "Offensive" is the straight/definition part of the clue. The straight part is often a synonym or definition, in this case offensive = airstrike.The cryptic/wordplay part
In cryptic crossword there's often an wordplay/cryptic part as well.This part involves a more complex hint, such as an anagram, homophone, hidden word, etc.
Sadly, We don't have an explanation for this specific crossword clue yet.
What does AIRSTRIKE mean?
AIRSTRIKE noun- An attack on a ground or naval target by one or more aircraft or missiles.
- To attack a ground target through the use of aircraft or missiles.