Operation Spider

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Operation Spider
Part of the Bosnian War and Inter-Bosnian Muslim War
Western Bosnia is the light green canton in the middle
Date 4 November 1994 – Summer 1995[a] Location Velika Kladuša, Autonomous Province of Western Bosnia 45°11′N 15°48′E / 45.183°N 15.800°E / 45.183; 15.800 Result Operation halted due to Operation "Storm" The AZPB is temporarily re-enstablished[1][2][3]
Belligerents
Republika Srpska  Republic of Serbian Krajina	Republic of Bosnia and Herzegovina
Commanders and leaders
Franko Simatović "Frenki"[4][2][3] Jovan "Jovica" Stanišić[2][3]	Atif Dudaković Izet Nanić
Units involved
1st Krajina Corps Red Berets[2][3] Arkan Tigers[2][3] Scorpions[2][3] 15 Lika Corps 21 Kordun Corps 39 Banija Corps	ARBiH 5th Corps

Operation Spider (

The

On September 27, 1994, the Army of the Republic of Serbian Krajina (SVK) and the Army of Republika Srpska (VRS) attacked and invaded a small part of the Republic of Bosnia and Herzegovina, with Krajina attacking from the south and Republika Srpska from the southeast. On October 2, their forces met and continued invading, but made little progress towards their goal was of capturing Bihać and liberating the APZB.

The invading armies continued to advance and made steady progress until November 3, 1994, when the forces of the ARBiH 5th Corps stopped them and pushed them back. Three days later, on November 6, the 5th Corps was almost cut off from the rest of the ARBiH army. The 5th Corps advanced south, aiming to destroy the Krajina army and liberate the APZB. They pushed back the Serbs from the outskirts of Bihać to below the village of Kulen Vakuf.

Timeline

As the VRS and the SVK were ready, the VRS were given the signal to begin the operation. The 1st Krajina Corps went to attack the village of Kulen Vakuf. Upon arrival, they met no resistance from the ARBiH, as the 5th Corps had just retreated from the village. The 1st Krajina Corps attacked the 5th Corps from the south, capturing the villages of

In the west, the 15 Lika Corps attacked and captured the village of Bugar. From the north, the 21st Kordun Corps launched an offensive to liberate the town of Velika Kladuša and restore the APZB. They did not make much progress however, and only managed to capture Velika Kladuša, Bosanska Bojna, and Šmrekovac, and failed to restore the APZB.

Aftermath

The aftermath of this operation left the 5th Corps still encircled by the APZB, the Republic of Serbian Krajina, and the Republika Srpska. This encirclement continued until Operation Storm, when the Republic of Serbian Krajina—a key ally to the APZB—was defeated in August 1995, marking a huge turning point for the Bosnian War and Croatian War of Independence. The APZB had no strength to take on the Bosnian Army, and were completely overrun by the 5th Corps in just one day, with Velika Kladuša being taken when Operation Storm ended on August 7, 1995.

Operation Spider and Operation Storm left many towns forever destroyed and ruined, most of which were on the frontlines of the conflict. There are about 8 ruined towns in the area: 3 next to Bihać, 1–2 next to Velika Kladuša, and 2–3 in the middle of the area.

Footnotes

References