Operation Rain

1993 armed conflict in Karlovac, Croatia

This article may require copy editing for grammar, style, cohesion, tone, or spelling. You can assist by editing it. (November 2024) (Learn how and when to remove this message)

|

Operation Rain

Part of the Croatian War of Independence
| Date| 9–13 September 1993

|

Location|

Karlovac, Croatia

Result|  Croatian victory
Belligerents
Croatia|  Serbian Krajina
Commanders and leaders
Josip Tomačić
Tomo Medved|  Unknown
Units involved

Croatian Army

* 110th Infantry Brigade
* 137th Brigade

Croatian Police|

Army of Serbian Krajina

* 21st Kordun (Bordunski) corps

Casualties and losses
9 soldiers killed, 11 civilians|  Unknown

Operation Rain (Croatian: Operacija Kiša) or the Karlovac attack (Croatian: karlovački napad) was an offensive conducted by the proto-state Serbian Krajina in September 1993. Operation "Rain" was launched in retaliation to Croatian Police activity in the Medak Pocket, employed units by the Croatian Army (HV) were the 110th and 137th Brigades, alongside other intervention units. The attack was one of the largest conducted by the Serbian Army of Krajina (ARSK) against the Croatian Army and police positions in Karlovac, specifically in Turanj.

The Army of Serbian Krajina started with rocket and artillery attacks to destroy infrastructure and military positions, to cause general chaos in Karlovac. The Army of Serbian Krajina unsuccessfully attempted to seize Karlovac to gain an upper hand against Zagreb.

## Prelude

[edit]

The Yugoslav People's Army and SAO Krajina took over most of Dalmatia and Gospić in 1991.[1] In 1993, the Army of Serbian Krajina (SVK) threatened Gospić and other towns in the Dalmatian hinterland. The situation worsened when the SVK began shelling Gospić, now on the frontline.[2] As a result, the Croatian Army mobilized around 2,500 infantry and Operation Medak Pocket commenced.[3] After about 2 weeks, the Croatian Army had defeated the Serbian Army of Krajina. In retaliation, the SVK would shell Karlovac. On 11 September, the SVK attack commenced.

## The attack

[edit]

### Shelling and rocketing of Karlovac

[edit]

The Army of Serbian Krajina shelled and rocketed on 10–13 September 1993. The preceding "Operation Medak Pocket" was the main motive of the shelling. Karlovac, along with Zagreb, Gospić and other towns suffered retaliatory attacks from the Army of Serbian Krajina,[4] using mainly multiple rocket launchers.

The first strikes hit downtown Karlovac on 10 September. The rocketing and shelling would be intermittent for 2–4 days. Consequently, 27 were injured and 7 killed. During the shelling, many civilians refuged in bomb shelters.[4][5]

### Ground offensive

[edit]

Between 9 and 13 September, soldiers from the Army of Serbian Krajina (ARSK) attacked Karlovac, and the first 1–2 days of battle saw continuous shelling. The ARSK then launched an organized attack on Karlovac; the goal of ARSK was to penetrate Turanj and threaten Zagreb and the Croatian Army.[6] The 110th and 137th Croatian Army (HV) brigades, along with other divisions and police, committed to the front line, the latter was launched on 13 September, a combination of artillery and mechanized attacks. The attack was repelled by the Croatian Army (HV). The Army of Serbian Krajina withdrew on the same day, marking Croatian victory.[7]

As part of the defense, 9 Croatian soldiers were killed in the shelling and gunfire, which obliged Franjo Tuđman to visit Karlovac and check on the wounded.[7] An unknown number of Army of Serbian Krajina personnel were killed.

## Aftermath

[edit]

The impacts of the attack were discussed by the 110th HV brigade association, the brigade that fought in the 1993 attack. The discussion related to how Karlovac's defense could have been improved.[8]

Citizens of Karlovac, politicians, and Mayors believe that the defense of Karlovac in September 1993 was heroic, proving the Croatian Army to be an effective force. Consequently, 13 September in Karllovac is a day to honour veterans who defended the city against the Army of Serbian Krajina.[9] The collapse of the Army of Serbian Krajina had been inevitable since the withdrawal of the Yugoslav People's Army; The Serb Krajina forces were severely weakened after the attack on Karlovac.

> This attack was a desperate move, the desperation of the enemy after losses on the military field. That's the difference between us, Croatia, and what was the strategy of Greater Serbia's aggression. Unfortunately, it was not the last time. Let's also remember the attack from 1995. The enemy's desperation was best seen in the fact that, when things didn't go their way, they used everything forbidden in war, by targeting civilian targets.

As stated by Tomo Medved.[8]

## References

[edit]

1. ^ "THE PROSECUTOR OF THE TRIBUNAL AGAINST SLOBODAN MILOSEVIC P. 105". Icty.org.
2. ^ Bobetko, Janko (1996). Sve moje bitke. Zagreb: Self-published. p. 379\. ISBN 953-97002-0-5.
3. ^ "The Medak Pocket - Akcija Medački džep(Volume 3, Number 3-4, Autumn-Winter 2002.)". www.nsf-journal.hr (in Croatian). Retrieved 22 September 2024.
4. ^ a b "1993 Human Rights Report: CROATIA". 3 March 2016. Archived from the original on 3 March 2016. Retrieved 22 September 2024.
5. ^ Archives, L. A. Times (11 September 1993). "7 Killed, 27 Hurt as Rebel Serbs Shell Garrison Town in Croatia". Los Angeles Times. Retrieved 22 September 2024.
6. ^ "Okrugli stol - Napad na Karlovac u rujnu 1993. - Muzej Domovinskog Rata". Muzeji Grada Karlovca (in Croatian). Retrieved 21 September 2024.
7. ^ a b "Okrugli stol". branitelji.gov.hr. Retrieved 21 September 2024.
8. ^ a b "Potpredsjednik Vlade Medved iz Karlovca: "Sloboda nam nije darovana, ona je krvlju plaćena"". Radio Mrežnica (in Croatian). 8 September 2023. Retrieved 21 September 2024.
9. ^ Tuškan, Petra (13 September 2024). "Obilježena je 31. obljetnica posljednje velikog napada na Karlovac koji je tada uspješno obranjen". Trend.com.hr. Retrieved 21 September 2024.