noun
battle zone; combat zone
Refers to an area where active fighting is taking place; often used in military or news contexts.
その地域は交戦地帯に指定された。
The area was designated a battle zone.
戦場 is a more general term for 'battlefield', while 交戦地帯 emphasizes an active combat zone, often with a legal or operational nuance.
Compound of 交戦 (kōsen, 'engagement, battle') and 地帯 (chitai, 'zone, area').