The phrase "repel an attack" is correct and can be used in written English.
You could use it when referring to defending oneself from an attack of any kind, physical, psychological, or otherwise. For example, "The government deployed their army to repel the enemy's attack."
An aggressive human response can avert an impending attack and can repel an attack in progress.
He was foiled in an attempt to capture the Spanish town of St. Augustine, Florida, but was able to repel an attack on Fort Frederica, Georgia (1742).
Also, the results of the test will not be made public, and a failure to successfully repel an attack will not bring fines or other penalties, he said.
In 1990, shortly before Iraq invaded Kuwait, the Central Command conducted a war game that evaluated the ability to repel an attack by Iraq.
Sergeant Smith was killed in Iraq two years ago yesterday, credited with saving about 100 fellow soldiers while trying to repel an attack.
The cost to the biggest companies of taking the steps necessary to repel an attack and deal with the damage caused by one can reach about £250,000, or $400,000.
The Danish company that operates the ship, the Maersk Line, said its onboard guards repelled an attack from multiple pirate skiffs after the attackers opened fire on the vessel, the Maersk Texas.
His supporters soon increased, and with 1,000 men he repelled an attack by the oligarchs.
Marcus is under pressure to prove himself, which he does by repelling an attack from maddened locals.
Officials said Afghan forces had repelled an attack by seven suicide bombers on the governor's compound in Panjshir Province.
French soldiers fired on Ivory Coast rebels today, repelling an attack as the rebels tried to seize a strategic western town.
