Crossword Genius

Cross US conflict zone returning from island (4)

Ross

I believe the answer is:

manx

I'm a little stuck... Click here to teach me more about this clue!

'island' is the definition.
(I know that Manx is a island)

'cross us conflict zone returning' is the wordplay.
I cannot quite understand how this works, but
'cross' could be 'x' (an X is a cross) and 'x' is found in the answer.
The remaining letters 'man' is a valid word which might be clued in a way I don't understand.
This explanation may well be incorrect...

'from' acts as a link.

Can you help me to learn more?

(Other definitions for manx that I've seen before include "Adjective indicating the Isle of Man" , "Isle of Man's language" , "Celtic language, relating to the Isle of Man" , "Type of cat, of shearwater" , "Island's" .)

I've seen this clue in The Times.
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