the term decisive victory refers to a military victory that decides a matter or a conflict. a decisive victory has to result in a positive outcome for the victor and create a condition of peace between the two warring states. by comparison, an inconclusive victory is one in which one side won, but the issues between them are not resolved. a desirable goal for all armies fighting conventional wars is a quick and decisive victory with few casualties. for example, in the six-day war that started on 5 june 1967, the israel defense forces (idf) achieved a decisive victory over the combined armies of egypt, syria and jordan. this established israel as a regional power in the middle east with about six years of peace. during the cold war (1947-1991) the idea of a decisive victory (or any victory) seemed obsolete. instead, the theory of limited war seemed more practical in the age of nuclear weapons as it would not escalate into a full-scale war that would result in mutual assured destruction.