NATO Troops Fire First Shots in Bosnia, Marking Departure from UN Rules

Strategic Insights -

NATO's decision to authorize its peacekeeping troops to use deadly force in response to a predawn attack on Italian soldiers marks a departure from the more stringent rules of engagement employed by the United Nations. This shift in policy was underscored when Italian troops fired back at a car that had wounded a 20-year-old Italian soldier, Cpl. Elio Sbordoni, who was slightly wounded in the arm. The attack occurred in a Serb-held suburb north of Sarajevo, where Italian troops had been stationed as part of the 60,000-strong NATO-led peace mission.

Key Takeaways:

  • NATO troops fired their first shots in Bosnia, targeting a car that had wounded an Italian soldier in a Serb-held suburb north of Sarajevo.
  • The attack marked a departure from the more stringent rules of engagement employed by the United Nations, which required soldiers to know the direction from which they were being attacked and to determine the actual source of fire before shooting back.
  • Italian troops fired four to five rounds from a 5.66mm rifle in response to the attack, but may not have hit the gunman, who was not seen by the soldiers.
  • The incident serves as an example of the differences in policy between the UN and NATO forces in Bosnia, with the NATO mission adopting a more relaxed approach to rules of engagement.
  • The attack resulted in the first NATO casualty from hostile fire since the United Nations handed over authority to NATO on December 20.
  • The Italian soldier, Cpl. Elio Sbordoni, was slightly wounded in the arm and is recovering from his injuries.

Statistics:

  • 15 to 20 rounds were fired in the direction of the soldiers before the gunman sped off.
  • 4 to 5 rounds were fired by Italian troops in response to the attack.
  • 2,500 Italian troops are part of the 60,000-strong NATO-led peace mission to Bosnia.
  • 110 peacekeepers lost their lives during the UN operation in Bosnia, with the majority dying in traffic accidents.
  • 3 crew members perished when an Italian air force plane was shot down by one of Bosnia's warring factions in September 1992.

Sources:

  • The Washington Post, John Pomfret, "NATO Troops Fire First Shots in Bosnia, Marking Departure from UN Rules."
  • NATO spokesman, Lt. Col. Mark Rayner.
  • Italian officer interviewed in the article.