Battle of Hrasnica (1992)

Battle of Hrasnica in 1992
Part of the Siege of Sarajevo during the Bosnian War
Location map of Bosnia and Herzegovina Hrasnica Hrasnica Location of Hrasnica in Bosnia and Herzegovina
Date 4 August 1992 Location Hrasnica, Sarajevo, Bosnia and Herzegovina Result Army of Republika Srpska victory Bosnian Muslim attack failed VRS retains eastern Hrasnica, as well as Dobrinja, Nedžarići, Kovačići and Grbavica
Belligerents
Republika Srpska (1992–95)	Republic of Bosnia and Herzegovina
Commanders and leaders
Željko Ražnatović	Fikret Prevljak
Units involved
Army of Republika Srpska Arkan Tigers	Army of the Republic of Bosnia and Herzegovina 4th Knight Motorized Brigade
Casualties and losses
Unknown	27 killed

The Battle of Hrasnica (in Serbian: Bitka kod Hrasnice; in Serbian Cyrillic: Битка код Храснице; in Bosnian: Bitka kod Hrasnice) on 4 August 1992 was a battle fought between the Army of Republika Srpska (VRS) and the Army of the Republic of Bosnia and Herzegovina (ARBiH). The Bosnian Muslim units attacked the Bosnian Serbs in Hrasnica by passing through the factory of "Famos" but their attack was repelled and they suffered heavy losses.

Background

Main article: Siege of Sarajevo

Immediately after the start of the war, Sarajevo was besieged, from 5 April 1992 to 29 February 1996 (1,425 days). On 6 April, Serb forces began shelling Sarajevo, and besieged Zvornik, Višegrad and Foča. On 27 April, the Bosnian government ordered the JNA to be put under civilian control or expelled, which was followed by a series of conflicts in early May between the two. On 2 May, the Green Berets together with local gang members fought against a disorganized Serb attempt on cutting Sarajevo in two. On 3 May, Alija Izetbegović was captured at Sarajevo Airport by JNA officers, and used to gain safe passage of JNA troops from downtown Sarajevo. However, Bosniak forces dishonoured the agreement and ambushed the departing JNA convoy, which gave losses on both sides, However, the JNA had the most: between 6 and 42 killed. On the last days of May, the JNA withdrew all of its soldiers from Sarajevo, including the ones that were already besieging the city.

Course of the battle

At the time of 1992, Hrasnica was part of ARBiH. Gornji Mladenac and Krupac were being controlled by Serbs. The attack was carried out by members of the 4th Motorized Brigade of the ARBiH: their goal was to pass through the "Famos" factory and the settlements located next to it and then attack settlements east of Hrasnica. Arkan's Guard reacts quickly and stops the Muslim offensive. The Battle resulted in a victory for the VRS and, due to the heavy losses, the ARBiH began to retreat from eastern Hrasnica, Dobrinja, Nedžarići, Kovačići and Grbavica.

Sources

• Burg, Steven L.; Shoup, Paul S. (1999). The War in Bosnia-Herzegovina: Ethnic Conflict and International Intervention (2nd ed.). M.E. Sharpe. ISBN 978-0-7656-3189-3.
• Mulaj, Klejda (2008). Politics of Ethnic Cleansing: Nation-state Building and Provision of In/security in Twentieth-century Balkans. Lexington Books. ISBN 978-0-7391-1782-8.