Operation Pećigrad '94
| Operation Pećigrad 94 | |||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Part of the Bosnian War | |||||||
| |||||||
| Belligerents | |||||||
| Army of the Republic of Bosnia and Herzegovina (ARBiH) | |||||||
| Commanders and leaders | |||||||
| Atif Dudaković | Fikret Abdić | ||||||
| Strength | |||||||
| Unknown | Unknown | ||||||
| Casualties and losses | |||||||
| Unknown | 800+ captured | ||||||
Operation Pećigrad was a military operation conducted by the Army of the Republic of Bosnia and Herzegovina (ARBiH) 5th Corps against the forces of the Autonomous Province of Western Bosnia (APZB) led by Fikret Abdić. The operation took place from 11 June to 4 August 1994 and was a decisive step in the Bosnian Government’s campaign to eliminate Abdic's separatist regime in northwest Bosnia.
Background
[edit]In early June 1994, following a ceasefire with Bosnian Serb forces, the ARBiH 5th Corps redirected its full attention to Abdic's forces. On 11 June, APZB forces attacked government-held territory, making initial gains. By 13 June, the 5th Corps had counterattacked, capturing approximately 30 square kilometers and advancing toward Pećigrad, a key town on the route from Cazin to Abdic's stronghold of Velika Kladuša.[1]
The Operation
[edit]Pećigrad became the focus of intense fighting as both sides recognized its strategic importance. The APZB 4th Brigade, considered Abdic’s best formation, defended the town tenaciously. By 22 June, the 5th Corps had surrounded Pećigrad on three sides, trapping the defending forces.
In a remarkable strategic deception known as "Tigar-Sloboda 94," Dudaković’s forces staged a mock mutiny, luring Abdic to supply weapons and reinforcements, which were then seized by the 5th Corps. This provided the government forces with critical additional arms and ammunition while weakening Abdic’s internal support.
By early August, the ARBiH concentrated fire on Pećigrad, and on 4 August, the town fell after the APZB 4th Brigade commander refused a surrender offer and was killed. Over 800 APZB defenders were captured, clearing the way for the 5th Corps to advance on Velika Kladuša.[1]
Aftermath
[edit]The fall of Pećigrad allowed the ARBiH 5th Corps to capture Velika Kladuša on 21 August 1994, leading to the collapse of Abdic’s regime. Hundreds of former APZB fighters abandoned their weapons, and tens of thousands of civilians fled to Croatia. The operation was considered a significant government victory and boosted the morale and reputation of Dudaković and the 5th Corps.[1]
See also
[edit]References
[edit]- ^ a b c Balkan battlegrounds : a military history of the Yugoslav conflict, 1990-1995 v.1. United States. Central Intelligence Agency (CIA). 2002. pp. 245–246.