Expeditions Personally Led by the Prophet ﷺ
In Islamic history, military expeditions and battles in which Prophet Muhammad ﷺ personally participated and commanded are generally called "Ghazwa" (plural: Ghazawat). Major battles that were turning points in Islamic history — such as Badr, Uhud, Khandaq (Trench), and Tabuk — are all classified as Ghazawat.
Prophet Muhammad ﷺ conducted 27 Ghazawat during the Medinan period. In some of these, actual combat took place (such as Badr, Uhud, and Khandaq), while in others, the military deterrence shown was enough to achieve success without fighting (such as Tabuk).
The Difference Between Ghazwa and Sariyyah
If the Prophet ﷺ did not personally join a military unit or expedition, but instead appointed one of his Companions as commander and sent them, such smaller-scale military operations or reconnaissance missions are called "Sariyyah".
This is why Islamic historical sources generally use the more accurate terminology "Ghazwa Badr" instead of "Battle of Badr." Because this glorious struggle of Badr holds the distinction of being the first great battle that the Messenger of Allah ﷺ personally commanded and led the Muslim army into.