Operation Mistral
Encyclopedia
Operation Mistral were two linked military offensives of the Croatian Army, Army of the Republic of Bosnia and Herzegovina
, and the Croatian Defence Council
launched in Western Bosnia and Herzegovina
during September 1995 as part of the Croatian War of Independence
and the Bosnian War
. It ended with a decisive victory for the Croatian and Bosnian forces.
At the same time, NATO began its bombings (Operation Deliberate Force) against Bosnian Serbs as punishment for the second of the two Markale Massacres
, which further demoralized and weakened the Bosnian Serb position.
during Storm, the 4th Guards Brigade and the 7th Guards Brigade
, returned to Bosnian territory and attacked north from the area around Bosansko Grahovo
, captured during the summer.
The first phase of the Operation (Mistral 1) began on September 8 and the first Serb lines were broken quickly. Opposing the Croatians were 7 light infantry brigades, one motorized brigade and two armored battalions of the Serb forces. The city of Šipovo
fell quickly and the 7th Guards Brigade captured the strategically important mountain pass
of Mliništa. Jajce
was captured on September 13 and the first phase ended on that day at 1800 hours at which time about 2000 square kilometers had changed hands.
Following this, the second phase of the operation (Mistral 2) began, during which Drvar
was captured on September 14, and the operation ended on September 30. When it ended, only the city of Mrkonjić Grad
remained between Croat forces and the Serb capital of Banja Luka
. Mrkonjić Grad
was captured soon after, during Operation Južni potez (Oct 8-12 1995.).
At the same time, the Bosnian Fifth Corps from Bihać, on the left wing of the Croatian advance, launched its own simultaneous offensive and captured Krupa
, Bosanski Petrovac
and Ključ
; advancing on Prijedor
, west of Banja Luka. Although Bosnian actions were not part of Operation Mistral, the advancement of the two armies were coordinated as part of a general fall offensive in western Bosnia.
in October 1995, pushing further east; simultaneously Croat forces advanced further northeast.
The success of the Croat and Bosniak post-Storm offensives meant that the entire western Bosnia was now in their hands. The vital Serb center of Banja Luka was now a realistic next objective, whose capture would mean total defeat for Serb forces in Bosnia. Their new position finally convinced the Bosnian Serb leaders to agree to negotiate and the Dayton Agreement
was reached only one month after Mistral, ending the Bosnian War.
Army of the Republic of Bosnia and Herzegovina
The Army of the Republic of Bosnia and Herzegovina was the military force of the Republic of Bosnia and Herzegovina established by the government of Bosnia and Herzegovina in 1992 following the outbreak of the Bosnian War...
, and the Croatian Defence Council
Croatian Defence Council
The Croatian Defence Council was a military formation of the self-proclaimed Croatian Republic of Herzeg-Bosnia during the Bosnian War.-History:...
launched in Western Bosnia and Herzegovina
Bosnia and Herzegovina
Bosnia and Herzegovina , sometimes called Bosnia-Herzegovina or simply Bosnia, is a country in Southern Europe, on the Balkan Peninsula. Bordered by Croatia to the north, west and south, Serbia to the east, and Montenegro to the southeast, Bosnia and Herzegovina is almost landlocked, except for the...
during September 1995 as part of the Croatian War of Independence
Croatian War of Independence
The Croatian War of Independence was fought from 1991 to 1995 between forces loyal to the government of Croatia—which had declared independence from the Socialist Federal Republic of Yugoslavia —and the Serb-controlled Yugoslav People's Army and local Serb forces, with the JNA ending its combat...
and the Bosnian War
Bosnian War
The Bosnian War or the War in Bosnia and Herzegovina was an international armed conflict that took place in Bosnia and Herzegovina between April 1992 and December 1995. The war involved several sides...
. It ended with a decisive victory for the Croatian and Bosnian forces.
At the same time, NATO began its bombings (Operation Deliberate Force) against Bosnian Serbs as punishment for the second of the two Markale Massacres
Markale massacres
The Markale massacres were two bombardments carried out by the Army of Republika Srpska targeting civilians during the Siege of Sarajevo in the Bosnian War. They occurred at the Markale located in the historic core of Sarajevo, the capital of Bosnia and Herzegovina.The first happened on February...
, which further demoralized and weakened the Bosnian Serb position.
Background
Following successful operations during the Summer of 1995 and the August overtaking of Krajina during Operation Storm, Croatian forces switched to Bosnian territory to continue the pursuit of Serb forces which were routed after Storm.The Operation
Two elite Croatian brigades, which captured KninKnin
Knin is a historical town in the Šibenik-Knin county of Croatia, located near the source of the river Krka at , in the Dalmatian hinterland, on the railroad Zagreb–Split. Knin rose to prominence twice in history, as a one-time capital of both the Kingdom of Croatia and briefly of the...
during Storm, the 4th Guards Brigade and the 7th Guards Brigade
7th Guards Brigade (Croatia)
The 7th Guards Brigade , also known by their nickname Pumas , was a Croatian Ground Army brigade formed on 23 December 1992 in Varaždin...
, returned to Bosnian territory and attacked north from the area around Bosansko Grahovo
Bosansko Grahovo
Bosansko Grahovo is a town and municipality in western Bosnia and Herzegovina. It is located near the border with Croatia, near the towns of Drvar, Livno and Glamoč...
, captured during the summer.
The first phase of the Operation (Mistral 1) began on September 8 and the first Serb lines were broken quickly. Opposing the Croatians were 7 light infantry brigades, one motorized brigade and two armored battalions of the Serb forces. The city of Šipovo
Šipovo
Šipovo is a town and municipality in central Bosnia and Herzegovina. It is situated in the western part of the Republika Srpska entity and the southern part of the Bosanska Krajina region. The municipality covers an area of , much of which is forested. The Glogovac monastery of the Serb Orthodox...
fell quickly and the 7th Guards Brigade captured the strategically important mountain pass
Mountain pass
A mountain pass is a route through a mountain range or over a ridge. If following the lowest possible route, a pass is locally the highest point on that route...
of Mliništa. Jajce
Jajce
Jajce is a city and municipality located in the central part of Bosnia and Herzegovina. It is part of the Central Bosnia Canton of the Federation of Bosnia and Herzegovina entity...
was captured on September 13 and the first phase ended on that day at 1800 hours at which time about 2000 square kilometers had changed hands.
Following this, the second phase of the operation (Mistral 2) began, during which Drvar
Drvar
Drvar is a town and municipality in western Bosnia and Herzegovina, located on the road between Bosansko Grahovo and Bosanski Petrovac, also near Glamoč. It is administratively part of Canton 10 of the Federation....
was captured on September 14, and the operation ended on September 30. When it ended, only the city of Mrkonjić Grad
Mrkonjic Grad
Mrkonjić Grad is a town and municipality in western Bosnia and Herzegovina, in the Republika Srpska entity. It is located in the Bosanska Krajina, between Banja Luka and Jajce.-Name:...
remained between Croat forces and the Serb capital of Banja Luka
Banja Luka
-History:The name "Banja Luka" was first mentioned in a document dated February 6, 1494, but Banja Luka's history dates back to ancient times. There is a substantial evidence of the Roman presence in the region during the first few centuries A.D., including an old fort "Kastel" in the centre of...
. Mrkonjić Grad
Mrkonjic Grad
Mrkonjić Grad is a town and municipality in western Bosnia and Herzegovina, in the Republika Srpska entity. It is located in the Bosanska Krajina, between Banja Luka and Jajce.-Name:...
was captured soon after, during Operation Južni potez (Oct 8-12 1995.).
At the same time, the Bosnian Fifth Corps from Bihać, on the left wing of the Croatian advance, launched its own simultaneous offensive and captured Krupa
Krupa
Krupa may refer to:People:* Gene Krupa, a Polish-American drummer* Joanna Krupa, a Polish model and actress* Michael Krupa, a Polish war hero/author* Olek Krupa, a Polish actor* Urszula Krupa, a Polish politicianPlaces:...
, Bosanski Petrovac
Bosanski Petrovac
Bosanski Petrovac is a town in western Bosnia and Herzegovina. It is also the name of the municipality. The town and municipality are part of the Federation of Bosnia and Herzegovina and the Una-Sana Canton.-People:...
and Ključ
Kljuc
Ključ is a town and municipality by the same name in western Bosnia and Herzegovina. It is located in the Federation of Bosnia and Herzegovina, specifically the Una-Sana Canton. The name of the town and the municipality translates to "Key" in Bosnian....
; advancing on Prijedor
Prijedor
Prijedor is a city and municipality in the north-western part of Bosnia and Herzegovina. It is situated in the Bosanska Krajina region....
, west of Banja Luka. Although Bosnian actions were not part of Operation Mistral, the advancement of the two armies were coordinated as part of a general fall offensive in western Bosnia.
Aftermath
Following the collapse of Serb resistance in west Bosnia, Serb forces regrouped and launched a counteroffensive which was repulsed by Croat and Bosniak forces. This enabled ABiH's Fifth Corps to start Operation SanaOperation Sana
Operation Sana was the last military operation undertaken by the Bosnian Army during the Bosnian War. It was undertaken in October 1995, in the series of general counteroffensives by Bosnian and Croatian forces following Operation Storm...
in October 1995, pushing further east; simultaneously Croat forces advanced further northeast.
The success of the Croat and Bosniak post-Storm offensives meant that the entire western Bosnia was now in their hands. The vital Serb center of Banja Luka was now a realistic next objective, whose capture would mean total defeat for Serb forces in Bosnia. Their new position finally convinced the Bosnian Serb leaders to agree to negotiate and the Dayton Agreement
Dayton Agreement
The General Framework Agreement for Peace in Bosnia and Herzegovina, also known as the Dayton Agreement, Dayton Accords, Paris Protocol or Dayton-Paris Agreement, is the peace agreement reached at Wright-Patterson Air Force Base near Dayton, Ohio in November 1995, and formally signed in Paris on...
was reached only one month after Mistral, ending the Bosnian War.