Some explains this as referring to the war against the evil inclination[FP1] . 

Attack! War!

These words are enough to make anyone jump in panic. Whether you live in Eretz Yisrael and have experienced rockets falling in your neighborhood or you live in chutz l’Aretz and fear terrorist attacks and mad shootings.

War is petrifying. Terrifying. And paralyzing. How do you protect yourself? Where can you hide?

The most formidable treacherous enemy that man faces is his evil inclination. He’s constantly engaged in battle with him. (Chofetz Chaim)

War has broken out. Early in the morning while still dazed with sleep you hear the siren with its eerie wail penetrating your dreams. You jump out of bed ready to protect your children to dash to the bomb shelter.

And then you identify the sound. The siren is the cry of the shofer its ear-splitting force entering your heart with the power of its message.

You want to hide. But in this war there’s no getaway. The only option is to face the enemy to do battle with the scourge that has set up camp deep in your soul.

There’s a parable of two business partners. One partner overtly steals from the other and the repercussions are fast and forthcoming. And although he may not be able to repay the damages the effect of his partner’s fury will be a detriment in the future.

This is the evil inclination whose intention is to distract from Torah and mitzvos. Thus a wise man must always be on guard. Even if he doesn’t emerge completely victorious his determination to succeed will deter the yetzer hara from enticing him again. (ibid.)

There are public battles that we wage furiously with loud angry voices. Protests to maintain kedushas Shabbos angry cries against laws that threaten our mesorah defending bris milah limud Torah …

But sometimes the thief presents a cunning facade of loyalty to his partner. He appears to promote the business but is really embezzling the profits.  Then the other partner must act with shrewdness and guard his business with scrutiny. (ibid) 

Today seems serene. The boys are back in yeshivah the kids back in school. Routine has descended replacing the chaos of summer vacation with the peace of predictability.  

Where’s the war? Why is the shofar startling me out of my complacency?

There are also times when the yetzer hara presents man with a mitzvah to pretend to benefit him but his true intention is only to cause him to sin more. (ibid) 

You begin birchas hamazon with kavanah and a bentscher in hand. But a moment later your sister phones and your son answers.

“Nu! Nu! Uh! Uh!”

“Tell her no?’$$separate quotes$$” your son attempts to decipher your hand motions.

“Nu. Nu. Nu-uh.”

There went all your kavanah. It went and it won’t return. Certainly not until a future bentsching. You lost that battle but you didn’t lose the war. Remember this and next time you’ll triumph.

Evening falls spreading its welcome wings over tired mothers like you. But some small barefoot pajama-clad creatures still insist on encroaching on your “quiet time.”

A battle is taking place between the evil impatient fuming mom and the understanding loving mommy who puts her kids back in bed with another kiss and story.

The battle is over and you won!

An insulting word. A cruel remark.  

You’re at the front lines. Will you restrain yourself? Can you triumph against evil?

This is war. And it’s bloody with wails of agony explosions and fire. It’s a war between your two inclinations and only one can emerge victorious.

Who will it be?

Do you sense the ambush lying in wait when you go on a shopping trip to buy an outfit for Yom Tov?

Do you hear the cry of battle when someone starts telling you exactly what Shoshanah said to …

If you go out to war you’ll be helped from Shamayim as it says “And Hashem will give them over in your hands” (ibid).

Elul is upon us. Let’s wage a mighty war so that on Motzaei Yom Kippur we’ll hear the sounds of victory in the shofer’s blast.