Yet it could be open conflict (5,6)

I believe the answer is:

close combat

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'yet it could' is the definition.
I don't know anything about this answer so I cannot judge whether this works.

'open conflict' is the wordplay.
'open' becomes 'close' (I am not sure about this - if you are sure you should believe this answer much more).
'conflict' becomes 'combat' (combat is a kind of conflict).
'close'+'combat'='CLOSE COMBAT'

'be' is the link.

Can you help me to learn more?

I've seen this clue in The Globe and Mail.

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