counterstrike vs assail

counterstrike and assail both are verbs.

Word	Noun	Adjective	Verb	Adverb
counterstrike	No	No	Yes	No
assail	No	No	Yes	No

As verbs, assail is a hypernym of counterstrike; that is, assail is a word with a broader meaning than counterstrike:

counterstrike: make a counterattack
assail: launch an attack or assault on; begin hostilities or start warfare with

Other hypernyms of counterstrike include attack.

counterstrike (verb)	assail (verb)
make a counterattack	attack in speech or writing
	attack someone physically or emotionally
	launch an attack or assault on; begin hostilities or start warfare with