Cut sailor receives in major international conflict (3,3)

'major international conflict' is the definition.
The definition and answer can be both acts as well as being singular nouns.
Maybe they are linked in a way I don't understand?

'cut sailor receives' is the wordplay.
'cut' becomes 'hew' (hew can mean to chop or cut).
'sailor' becomes 'tar' (term for a sailor).
'receives' means one lot of letters goes inside another (inserted letters are received).
'hew' placed inside 'tar' is 'THE WAR'.

'in' is the link.

Can you help me to learn more?