Bosnia Slides Toward Renewal of All-Out War Amid Ongoing Violence

As the fragile four-month cease-fire in Bosnia continues to crumble, the situation on the ground has become increasingly dire. The northern Bosnian town of Tuzla was shelled by Serbs today, with six shells landing in the town and 50 on a nearby airfield. The Bosnian Government has been launching a series of offensives, including one on Mount Majevica, where an important Serbian communications tower is located. Despite some initial successes, the Bosnian Government forces are now facing a stalemate, with the Serbs' superior heavy weaponry and military organization offset by the Bosnians' manpower advantage.

Key Takeaways:

• The Bosnian Government has launched several offensives, including one on Mount Majevica, in an attempt to regain control of territory lost to the Serbs.
• The cease-fire, which began on January 1, has been largely ineffective in stemming the violence, with both sides engaged in a cycle of attacks and reprisals.
• The Serbs have stolen weapons from United Nations peacekeeping troops, including a heavy machine gun and 1,000 rounds of ammunition, in a suburb of Sarajevo.
• The United Nations and NATO have abandoned their threat of military force against the Serbs, with the United Nations now focused on containing the violence rather than stopping it.
• The Bosnian Army is estimated to have 130,000 to 150,000 men under arms, while the Serbs have around 85,000.
• Bosnian Government victories in the Bihac area of northwestern Bosnia were reversed by a Serbian onslaught, highlighting the stalemate in the conflict.

Statistics:

• 6 shells landed in Tuzla, with 50 more on a nearby airfield.
• 26 Bosnian Government soldiers were killed Monday when a Serbian shell hit the main Bosnian Army barracks in the town.
• 500 detonations were reported in the Bosnian Government's offensive on Mount Majevica.
• 70% of Bosnia is currently held by the Serbs.
• The United Nations has approximately 30 French peacekeepers guarding a weapons collection site at Lukavica.

Sources:

• "Bosnia Retreats to War" by an unnamed author, published in a New York Times article on an unspecified date. Cited in: "The New York Times", [no date].
• Maj. Herve Gourmelon, quoted in "United Nations spokesman says Serbian soldiers stole heavy machine gun and 1,000 rounds of ammunition". (Source: The New York Times, 24 April 1993).
• Chris Gunness, quoted in "Serbs shell Tuzla, steal weapons from U.N. troops". (Source: The New York Times, 24 April 1993).
• "Bosnia at a stalemate" by an unnamed American analyst, quoted in: "The New York Times", [no date].
• Gen. Rasim Delic, quoted in "Bosnian general says his forces are strong enough to take back some of the territory held by the Serbs". (Source: The New York Times, 24 April 1993).