NATO Jets Respond to Serbian Attacks in Sarajevo

Strategic Insights -

Serbian mortar bombs slammed into the city center of Sarajevo, killing three people, including a 15-year-old girl, and wounding seven others, sparking a NATO response. The United Nations peacekeeping officers had requested the escalation after the security situation in the city deteriorated sharply over the weekend. Serbian forces had been firing on civilian targets, including a relief plane, forcing the closure of the United Nations-operated airport in Sarajevo.

Key Takeaways:

  • Three people were killed in the mortar attacks, including a 15-year-old girl, and seven others were wounded, including two policemen.
  • The attacks occurred in the city center held by the Muslim-led Bosnian Government, in apparent violation of a United Nations ban on large-caliber weapons within a 12-mile radius of the city.
  • The Serbian forces had been besieging the city and had fired at least six 120-millimeter mortar bombs into Sarajevo on Saturday evening, wounding one man.
  • A man was also wounded by mortar fire in the city center this morning, adding to the death toll and the pressure on the United Nations mission in Bosnia.
  • Bosnian Serb forces stepped up attacks on United Nations-declared "safe areas" like Sarajevo after an offensive by Bosnian Government forces last month won the Muslim-led troops some strategic high ground.
  • The United Nations officials closed Sarajevo's airport after the Serbs refused to guarantee the safety of humanitarian flights.

Statistics:

  • Three people were killed in the mortar attacks, including a 15-year-old girl.
  • Seven people were wounded, including two policemen.
  • At least six 120-millimeter mortar bombs were fired into Sarajevo on Saturday evening.
  • One man was wounded by mortar fire in the city center this morning.
  • 12 miles: the radius within which firing of large-caliber weapons is prohibited by the United Nations.
  • In the past month, Bosnian Government forces have gained strategic high ground.

Sources:

  • [Associated Press]
  • [United Nations officials]
  • [Bosnian Serb forces]