We expected nothing less than an attack.

We expected an attack but didn't expect thinngs worse than an attack.

Thanks, Nona.

Do you mean nothing less than doesn't work effectively in this sentence?
Does this mean We expected at least an attack or We just expeted an attack?

LiJ

Anyone, please?

It means

We expected an attack, or more.
We expected an attack, or worse.
We expected, at least, an attack.
We expected, at minimum, an attack.
We would be lucky if only an attack occurred, because it seemed that something even worse might occur.
We would have been surprised if anything less dreadful than an attack occurred.

not less = the same

Thank you very much, CJ.

Got it.

Now, I know what Nona means. Thanks again, Nona.