Offensives on Velika Kladuša

Offensives on Velika Kladuša
Part of Operation Spider
Date 17 December 1994 – February 28, 1995 Location Velika Kladuša, Cazin, Bihać, Republic of Bosnia and Herzegovina Result Western Bosnia victory Territorial changes Velika Kladuša is linked with Cazin, re-establishment of Autonomous Province of Western Bosnia
Belligerents
Province of Western Bosnia Army of the Republika Srpska	Republic of Bosnia and Herzegovina
Commanders and leaders
Fikret "Babo" Abdić Franko Simatović "Frenki"	Atif Dudaković Izet Nanić
Units involved
National Defence of the APZB 1st Krajina Corps Red Berets Arkan Tigers	ARBiH 5th Corps
Strength
5000 1500	unknown

The Offensives on Velika Kladuša were series of fighting between NOZB and ARBiH to re-capture town of Velika Kladuša and link it to Cazin.^[1] These offensives were part of Operation Spider,and resulted into successful operation by NOZB and VRS,they had re-captured Velika Kladuša,and as time passed re-established Autonomous Province of Western Bosnia, soon said to become an Republic.^[2][3]

Prelude[edit]

Despite the announcement of a cease-fire in January 1995 in Bosnia and Herzegovina, fighting continues. In the vicinity of Velika Kladuša, the battles of the 5th Corps of the ARBiH with the remnants of Abdić's army and a small group of Serbian elite soldiers "Red Berets" continue.^[4][5] The fighting is mainly in the southern parts of the Cazin Krajina between the ARBiH and the VRS, where the VRS in Operation ''Shield 94'' regains the previously lost territories and comes only 500m from the center of Bihać, under pressure from NATO, the VRS suspends the operation and the final fall is missing Bihać.^[6]

Operation Spider[edit]

Operation Spider ''94'' was a joint action of the National Security Agency and the SVK for the return of Autonomy. About 5,000 Autonomists, 1,500 fighters of the 21st and 39th Corps of the Armed Forces and about 500 elite fighters of the "Red Berets" were involved in the operation, also a tactical group "Spider" was formed to help the Autonomy led by Major General Mile Novaković.On November 16, 1994, the operation to return Velika Kladuša began. In the next seven days, heavy fighting takes place between the Serbian-autonomous fighters with the 506th, 503rd, 505th, and 517th brigades of the ARBiH, fighting also breaks out in the southern part of the city, where the Serbian-autonomous fighters cut the Velika Kladuša - Cazin road. The UN and NATO are opposed to the help of the Serbian side in the restoration of Abdić's Autonomy, allegedly because of the "no-fly zone", and bombed the SVK airport in Udbina on November 21, 1994. On January 1, a truce was signed, which ended the VRS offensive on Bihać, which would later prove to be a big mistake, because Bihać was about to fall, and in the Operation Storm ''95'' it would cause great problems to the Serbian Krajina and the western parts of the RS. In December 1994, the NOZB liberates Velika Kladuša, the fighting continues, and on February 9, 1995, fierce fighting takes place between the special units of the NOZB and the ARBiH on Kumarica Vis, southeast of Velika Kladuša.^[7] In the second half of December, Serbian - autonomous forces liberate Podzvizd, Elezovice and Šestanovac. Until the end of February, the "Red Berets" carried out strong attacks and cleared troops of the 5th Corps in the northern part around Podzvizd, during the winter offensive, Mala Kladušawas also liberated from the ARBiH. During March, the fighting for Podzvizd is reactivated, until March 21, the offensive towards Vrnograč continues, originating in two directions, the beavers last until April, when the NOZB succeeds in liberating several villages on the western side of Vrnograč. Energetic attacks continued in mid-June, and after the expulsion of the 505th and 506th brigades of the ARBiH, on June 21, Vrnograč was liberated and advanced 2 km south of that place, and the attack stopped at the well-fortified enemy defense lines. There were no more active combat operations until the beginning of July.^[7]

Offensives on Velika Kladuša[edit]

Offensives on Velika Kladuša started in mid September 1994 and ended in late February 1995,these were series of fighting for re-claiming of the Autonomies Capital city,and re-storing Abdić's government back to rule,with Bosnian troops being encircled on most sides,the fighting was relatively easy for the NOZB,they kept fighting from outskirts first,then conducted 3 offensives,first they claimed an Government building^[8] in the city,then they advanced further to the center and at the end forced ARBiH forces to retreat,^[9][8] even tho city was basically in Ruins,Abdić funded restoration for his small city of Velika Kladuša after successfully,mostly all by himself in this operation,re-took an important city for the Bosniak Muslim forces.

References[edit]