Collocations for skirmish - noun

brief, little, minor, small
border
early, first, opening
an opening skirmish in the protracted media battle ahead

break out
Minor skirmishes broke out all along the border.

go on, happen, occur
continue

in a/the skirmish
He was killed in a border skirmish.

skirmish between
skirmishes between the police and guerrillas

skirmish over
a skirmish over boundaries

skirmish with
They were involved in a skirmish with rival fans.