U.N. Troops Confronted by Rebel Serbs in Croatia

Strategic Insights -

A sudden confrontation broke out Friday between U.N. troops and rebel Serbs in Croatia, leading to the takeover of the Sava River bridge connecting Serb-held territory in Croatia and northern Bosnia. The incident occurred in a border crossing near Nova Gradiska, 60 miles southeast of Zagreb, where a U.N. checkpoint was surrounded by rebel Serb militia and army units. Negotiations are under way between the U.N. command and rebel Serb authorities to return the Sava bridge to U.N. control, but so far, no outcome has been reported.

Key Takeaways:

  • The confrontation involved around 70 irregulars who took over the Sava River bridge from Nepalese U.N. peacekeepers.
  • The incident occurred at a U.N. checkpoint on the bridge, a border crossing between Croatia and Bosnia-Herzegovina.
  • Rebel Serbs maintain control of a quarter of Croatia since the 1991 Serb-Croat war and have proclaimed their Serbian 'state' on one-third of Croatian territory.
  • The U.N.-brokered truce between the Croatian government and rebel Serbs, in place since 1992, is being maintained by around 9,000 multinational U.N. troops.
  • The Sava River bridge connects Serb-held territory in Croatia and northern Bosnia, and its takeover by rebel Serbs is a significant development in the region's fragile trucelines.

Statistics:

  • Around 70 irregulars took over the Sava River bridge from Nepalese U.N. peacekeepers.
  • The U.N. checkpoint on the bridge was surrounded by 80 militiamen and army units.
  • The rebel Serbs maintain control of a quarter of Croatia since the 1991 Serb-Croat war.
  • Around 9,000 multinational U.N. troops are maintaining the truce line in the former Yugoslav republic.

Sources:

  • U.N. spokesman Michael Williams
  • The New York Times
  • AP News (no date provided)
  • Croatian government (no date provided)