U.N. Forces Take Action to Regain Control of Crucial Bridge in Croatia

U.N. commander Gen. Jean Cot has ordered Nepalese peacekeepers to regain control of a key bridge in Croatia, which has been in the hands of rebel Serbs since Friday. The bridge is a critical border crossing into neighboring Bosnia-Herzegovina, with significant commercial and military importance. The situation escalated when 100 heavily armed Serb soldiers forcefully entered a U.N. checkpoint and blocked the free movement of U.N. Protection Forces.

Key Takeaways:

• The bridge at Nova Gradiska, 60 miles southeast of Zagreb, is a critical border crossing into Bosnia-Herzegovina.
• Rebel Serbs, who control about a quarter of Croatia, forcefully entered a U.N. checkpoint at the bridge and blocked the movement of U.N. Protection Forces.
• Gen. Jean Cot has ordered Nepalese peacekeepers to take all necessary steps to regain control of the bridge.
• A U.N. military source stated that force may be used to regain control of the bridge if necessary.
• The source also mentioned that local Serb forces may be "flexing their muscles" under a new commander, which contributed to the escalation of the situation.
• The dispute is connected to Croatia's declaration of independence from Yugoslavia on June 25, 1991, and the subsequent armed rebellion by the Serb minority.

Statistics:

• 100: the number of heavily armed Serb soldiers who forcefully entered the U.N. checkpoint at the bridge.
• 12%: the percentage of Croatia's population that is Serb minority.
• 60 miles: the distance from Nova Gradiska to Zagreb, the capital of Croatia.
• 25 June 1991: the date of Croatia's declaration of independence from Yugoslavia.
• 25%: the percentage of Croatia controlled by rebel Serbs.

Sources:

• Williams, Michael. U.N. Spokesman in Zagreb. Statement, Saturday, [no date].
• Zagreb The, Byline: HRVOJE HRANJSKI. "UN forces take action to regain control of key bridge in Croatia," [no date].