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{{more citations needed|date=July 2024}} {{multiple issues|{{notability|date=October 2024}}{{better sources needed|date=July 2024}} }}
{{Infobox military conflict {{Infobox military conflict
| conflict = Siege of Kotor Varoš | conflict = Siege of Kotor Varoš
| image = | image = Kotor Varos-Catolicka crkva.jpg
| caption = HVO and ARBiH soldiers leave Kotor Varoš | caption =
| partof = the ] | partof = the ]
| date = May 1992 – August 1992 | date = 11 – 25 June 1992
| place = ], ] | place = ], ]
| result = ] victory | result = ] victory
Line 11: Line 11:
| combatant1 = {{flag|Republika Srpska}} | combatant1 = {{flag|Republika Srpska}}
| combatant2 = {{flagicon|Bosnia and Herzegovina|1992}} ]<br/>{{flagicon|Croatian Republic of Herzeg-Bosnia}} ] | combatant2 = {{flagicon|Bosnia and Herzegovina|1992}} ]<br/>{{flagicon|Croatian Republic of Herzeg-Bosnia}} ]
| commander1 = {{flagicon|Republika Srpska}} ]<br>{{flagicon|Republika Srpska}} ] | commander1 = {{flagicon|Republika Srpska}} ]
| commander2 = {{flagicon image|Flag of the Army of the Republic of Bosnia and Herzegovina.svg}} ]<br>{{flagicon image|Flag of Croatian Defence Council.svg}} ] | commander2 = {{flagicon image|Flag of the Army of the Republic of Bosnia and Herzegovina.svg}} ]
| units1 = ] ] | units1 = ] ]
| units2 = {{flagicon image|Flag of the Army of the Republic of Bosnia and Herzegovina.svg}} ]<br />{{flagicon image|Flag of Croatian Defence Council.svg}} ]<br />{{flagicon image|HOS flag.svg}} ] | units2 = {{flagicon image|Flag of the Army of the Republic of Bosnia and Herzegovina.svg}} ]<br />{{flagicon image|Flag of Croatian Defence Council.svg}} ]<br />{{flagicon image|HOS flag.svg}} ]
| image_size = 250 | image_size = 250
}} }}

The '''Siege of Kotor Varoš''' took place during the ] and lasted from May to August 1992. The conflict involved the ] (HVO),<ref>{{Cite web |last=Urednik |date=2023-04-04 |title=Savanović osudio obilježavanje godišnjice osnivanja HVO u Kotor Varošu, policija tvrdi da skup nije bio najavljen - Kotor Varoš - Glas Kotor Varoša - Nezavisni online magazin |url=https://www.glaskotorvarosa.com/savanovic-osudio-obiljezavanje-godisnjice-osnivanja-hvo-u-kotor-varosu-policija-tvrdi-da-skup-nije-bio-najavljen/ |access-date=2024-07-08 |language=bs-BA}}</ref> ] (HOS) and the ] on one side, against the ] (VRS), in ] and its villages. ] was surrounded by the VRS and heavy fighting took place throughout the summer of 1992, ending with the fall of the ] municipality and capture of ] by the VRS following ].<ref>{{Cite web |last=Urednik |date=2020-06-16 |title=СЈЕЋAЊЕ НА ЈУНАКЕ КОТОРВАРОШКОГ КРАЈА: РАДОВАН БЕРАК (1960 – 1992.) - Kotor Varoš - Glas Kotor Varoša - Nezavisni online magazin |url=https://www.glaskotorvarosa.com/%d1%81%d1%98%d0%b5%d1%9ba%d1%9a%d0%b5-%d0%bd%d0%b0-%d1%98%d1%83%d0%bd%d0%b0%d0%ba%d0%b5-%d0%ba%d0%be%d1%82%d0%be%d1%80%d0%b2%d0%b0%d1%80%d0%be%d1%88%d0%ba%d0%be%d0%b3-%d0%ba%d1%80%d0%b0%d1%98%d0%b0-2/ |access-date=2024-07-03 |language=bs-BA}}</ref>
The '''siege of Kotor Varoš''' took place during the ] and lasted from 11th to 25th June 1992. The conflict involved the ] (HVO) and the ] on one side, against the ] (VRS), in ] and its villages. ] was surrounded by the VRS and heavy fighting took place throughout the summer of 1992, ending with the fall of the ] and the start of ] to capture ].<ref>{{Cite book |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=uGM1MrB981IC&q=balkan+battlegrounds:+a+military+history+of+the+yugoslav+conflict |title=Balkan Battlegrounds: A Military History of the Yugoslav Conflict, 1990-1995 |date=2002 |publisher=Central Intelligence Agency, Office of Russian and European Analysis |isbn=978-0-16-066472-4 |pages=329 |language=en}}</ref>
== Background ==
On 18 November, the autonomous Croatian Community of Herzeg-Bosnia (HZ-HB) was established, it claimed it had no secession goal and that it would serve a "legal basis for local self-administration".{{sfn|Ramet|2010|p=264}} The decision on its establishment stated that the Community will "respect the democratically elected government of the ] for as long as exists the state independence of Bosnia and Herzegovina in relation to the former, or any other, Yugoslavia".{{sfn|Marijan|2004|p=259}} ] was established as its president.{{sfn|Toal|Dahlman|2011|p=105}} Although the city of ] had slightly more Serbs than Croats, Croats were allies with Bosniaks, so they held the majority and plus, the surrounding villages had Croat and Bosniak majority.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Popis 2013 u BiH |url=http://www.statistika.ba/?show=12&id=20281 |access-date=2024-11-18 |website=www.statistika.ba}}</ref> Croats considered ] their city and included it in the maps of ].

Croats and Bosniaks goal was cleanse the Serbs from the municipality and to connect with government-held territory. In April, many Serbs left ] due to fear of ] and ] presence in the city. Serbian civilians who remained were abused, killed and robbed just like in ] and ].<ref>{{Cite book |last1=U.S.) |first1=Helsinki Watch (Organization |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=nltdtAo38K0C&q=sijekovac |title=War Crimes in Bosnia-Hercegovina |last2=Nizich |first2=Ivana |date=1992 |publisher=Human Rights Watch |isbn=978-1-56432-083-4 |language=en}}</ref> Some of the crimes took place even after the Serbian occupation of ]. One of the most famous was the ], committed by the ].<ref name="BI1">{{cite news |date=14 January 2014 |title=Bosniak Fighters Jailed for Massacre of Serbs |url=https://balkaninsight.com/2014/01/14/guilty-verdict-for-kotor-varos-massacre/ |work=Balkan Insight}}</ref><ref name="BI2">{{cite news |date=4 February 2016 |title=Bosniak Ex-Fighter Jailed for Serdari Village Massacre |url=https://balkaninsight.com/2016/02/04/ex-bosniak-fighter-jailed-for-serdari-village-massacre-02-04-2016/ |work=Balkan Insight}}</ref> ] aimed to eliminate all the enclaves that were in it, and one of them was ].
]


== Timeline == == Timeline ==
In May, the ] (VRS) launched a major offensive to seize control of areas with significant Croat and Bosniak populations. The town of ] became a strategic target. On June 11–12,{{cn}} a fight breaks out that ends with the Serbian occupation of the city of ].<ref>{{Cite web |date=2023-01-27 |title=Kotor-Varoš - Sudski utvrđene činjenice iz rata u BiH |url=https://ratnizlocin.detektor.ba/presude/kotor-varos/ |access-date=2024-10-07 |language=bs-BA}}</ref> The HVO and local Bosniak forces attempted to defend the area but faced overwhelming VRS strength. On June 24, 1992, Heavy fighting occurred around ] as VRS forces intensified their offensive.{{cn}} Reports indicated that there were significant casualties and destruction of property. In June the VRS also started ],<ref>{{Cite book |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=uGM1MrB981IC&q=balkan+battlegrounds:+a+military+history+of+the+yugoslav+conflict |title=Balkan Battlegrounds: A Military History of the Yugoslav Conflict, 1990-1995 |date=2002 |publisher=Central Intelligence Agency, Office of Russian and European Analysis |isbn=978-0-16-066472-4 |page=329 |language=en}}</ref> attacking the nearby town of ]. In July, clashes continued with the VRS gradually gaining control over Kotor Varoš municipality.{{cn}} The HVO and ] (ARBiH) were pushed back, and many civilians fled or were displaced. By mid-August, the VRS had established control over ] municipality. There were also smaller rebel fights around the village in September, but they were resolved by an agreement that the remaining Croatian and Muslim forces would leave the area.{{cn}} On 11 June 1992, Serbian soldiers attacked the city of ]. Shootings broke out in the city, ] on one side and ] and ] on the other, the civilians were in a panic. The Serbs also shelled the city from the surrounding area. The village of ] was attacked with heavy artillery and air raids, while Hanifići, Plitska and Kotor were attacked and set on fire. Vrbanjci were a mixed village with a majority Muslim and Croat population. On 11 June 1992, several non-Serbs from Vrbanjač were arrested and taken in the direction of ]. On 12 June the fighting ended and the city was occupied by the ].<ref>{{Cite web |date=2023-01-27 |title=Kotor-Varoš - Sudski utvrđene činjenice iz rata u BiH |url=https://ratnizlocin.detektor.ba/presude/kotor-varos/ |access-date=2024-11-18 |language=bs-BA}}</ref> On 13 June, ] soldiers attacked and shelled the village of Hravacani, where Muslims lived, and killed five elderly Muslims. Serbs forced many Muslims and Croats to flee into the forest. Army of Bosnian Serbs attacked the town of Kotor-Varoš and the village of Vrbanci. On 19 June Muslims and Croats surrendered their weapons and returned to the city. On June 25 in ], there was a shooting between ] and ] under the command of Slobodan Dubočanin. Rebel ] soldiers were killed.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Agius, Janu, Taya |first=Carmel, Ivana, Chikako |name-list-style=amp |date=1 September 2004 |title=PRED PRETRESNIM VIJEĆEM II |url=https://ratnizlocin.detektor.ba/wp-content/uploads/2023/01/040901-Brdanin-1.pdf |publisher=Međunarodni sud za krivično gonjenje osoba odgovornih za teška kršenja međunarodnog humanitarnog prava počinjena na teritoriji bivše Jugoslavije od 1991. godine ] |page=216}}</ref>


== Aftermath == == Aftermath ==
The battle resulted in significant destruction and displacement of the civilian population. Reports of atrocities and ethnic cleansing emerged, with many non-Serb residents being expelled or killed.<ref>{{Cite web |last=B |first=Ante |date=2018-06-12 |title=12. lipnja 1992. Kotor Varoš – zašto Hrvati malo znaju o ovom velikom srpskom zločinu? |url=https://kamenjar.com/12-lipnja-1992-kotor-varos-zasto-hrvati-malo-znaju-o-ovom-velikom-srpskom-zlocinu/ |access-date=2024-07-03 |website=Kamenjar |language=hr}}</ref> When Kotor Varoš was under Croatian control, there were also crimes against Serbs.<ref>{{Cite web |last=d.o.o |first=Promotim |title=Kotor Varoš ili da li su muslimani 1992. srpske policajce pekli? |url=https://www.frontal.ba/blogovi/blog/61338 |access-date=2024-07-03 |website=www.frontal.ba |language=en}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |last=Dizdar |first=Mehmed |date=2009-04-08 |title=Zarobljenike tukli pripadnici HVO |url=https://www.glassrpske.com/lat/hronika/hronika_vijesti/zarobljenike-tukli-pripadnici-hvo/20321 |access-date=2024-07-08 |website=Glas Srpske |language=sr}}</ref> One such example was the ]. The capture of Kotor Varoš by the VRS solidified their control over a strategically important area in northern Bosnia and Herzegovina. The aftermath of the battle left deep scars on the Muslim and Croat community. The battle resulted in significant destruction and displacement of the civilian population. Reports of atrocities and ethnic cleansing emerged, with many non-Serb residents being expelled or killed.<ref>{{Cite web |last=B |first=Ante |date=2018-06-12 |title=12. lipnja 1992. Kotor Varoš – zašto Hrvati malo znaju o ovom velikom srpskom zločinu? |url=https://kamenjar.com/12-lipnja-1992-kotor-varos-zasto-hrvati-malo-znaju-o-ovom-velikom-srpskom-zlocinu/ |access-date=2024-07-03 |website=Kamenjar |language=hr}}</ref> When ] was under Serb control, there were also crimes against Croat and Bosniak population.<ref>https://balkaninsight.com/2015/11/18/six-bosnian-serbs-arrested-for-crimes-in-kotor-varos-11-18-2015/</ref>


==References== ==References==
{{Reflist}} {{Reflist}}

{{coord missing|Bosnia and Herzegovina}}


] ]

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Siege of Kotor Varoš
Part of the Bosnian War
Date11 – 25 June 1992
LocationKotor Varoš, Bosnia and Herzegovina
Result

Army of Republika Srpska victory

Belligerents
 Republika Srpska Bosnia and Herzegovina Republic of Bosnia and Herzegovina
Croatian Republic of Herzeg-Bosnia Herzeg-Bosnia
Commanders and leaders
Republika Srpska Slobodan Dubočanin Muhamed Sadiković
Units involved
Army of Republika Srpska Army of the Republic of Bosnia and Herzegovina
Croatian Defence Council
Croatian Defence Forces

The siege of Kotor Varoš took place during the Bosnian War and lasted from 11th to 25th June 1992. The conflict involved the Croatian Defence Council (HVO) and the Army of the Republic of Bosnia and Herzegovina on one side, against the Army of Republika Srpska (VRS), in Kotor Varoš and its villages. Kotor Varoš was surrounded by the VRS and heavy fighting took place throughout the summer of 1992, ending with the fall of the Kotor Varoš and the start of Operation Vrbas '92 to capture Jajce.

Background

On 18 November, the autonomous Croatian Community of Herzeg-Bosnia (HZ-HB) was established, it claimed it had no secession goal and that it would serve a "legal basis for local self-administration". The decision on its establishment stated that the Community will "respect the democratically elected government of the Republic of Bosnia and Herzegovina for as long as exists the state independence of Bosnia and Herzegovina in relation to the former, or any other, Yugoslavia". Mate Boban was established as its president. Although the city of Kotor Varoš had slightly more Serbs than Croats, Croats were allies with Bosniaks, so they held the majority and plus, the surrounding villages had Croat and Bosniak majority. Croats considered Kotor Varoš their city and included it in the maps of Herceg-Bosnia.

Croats and Bosniaks goal was cleanse the Serbs from the municipality and to connect with government-held territory. In April, many Serbs left Kotor Varoš due to fear of TOBiH and HVO presence in the city. Serbian civilians who remained were abused, killed and robbed just like in Kupres and Sjekovac. Some of the crimes took place even after the Serbian occupation of Kotor Varoš. One of the most famous was the massacre in Serdari, committed by the ARBiH. Army of Republika Srpska aimed to eliminate all the enclaves that were in it, and one of them was Kotor Varoš.

Kotor Varoš (number 5) as part of Herzeg-Bosnia

Timeline

On 11 June 1992, Serbian soldiers attacked the city of Kotor Varoš. Shootings broke out in the city, VRS on one side and ARBiH and HVO on the other, the civilians were in a panic. The Serbs also shelled the city from the surrounding area. The village of Večići was attacked with heavy artillery and air raids, while Hanifići, Plitska and Kotor were attacked and set on fire. Vrbanjci were a mixed village with a majority Muslim and Croat population. On 11 June 1992, several non-Serbs from Vrbanjač were arrested and taken in the direction of Kotor Varoš. On 12 June the fighting ended and the city was occupied by the VRS. On 13 June, VRS soldiers attacked and shelled the village of Hravacani, where Muslims lived, and killed five elderly Muslims. Serbs forced many Muslims and Croats to flee into the forest. Army of Bosnian Serbs attacked the town of Kotor-Varoš and the village of Vrbanci. On 19 June Muslims and Croats surrendered their weapons and returned to the city. On June 25 in Kotor Varoš, there was a shooting between ARBiH and VRS under the command of Slobodan Dubočanin. Rebel ARBiH soldiers were killed.

Aftermath

The battle resulted in significant destruction and displacement of the civilian population. Reports of atrocities and ethnic cleansing emerged, with many non-Serb residents being expelled or killed. When Kotor Varoš was under Serb control, there were also crimes against Croat and Bosniak population.

References

  1. Balkan Battlegrounds: A Military History of the Yugoslav Conflict, 1990-1995. Central Intelligence Agency, Office of Russian and European Analysis. 2002. p. 329. ISBN 978-0-16-066472-4.
  2. Ramet 2010, p. 264. sfn error: no target: CITEREFRamet2010 (help)
  3. Marijan 2004, p. 259. sfn error: no target: CITEREFMarijan2004 (help)
  4. Toal & Dahlman 2011, p. 105. sfn error: no target: CITEREFToalDahlman2011 (help)
  5. "Popis 2013 u BiH". www.statistika.ba. Retrieved 2024-11-18.
  6. U.S.), Helsinki Watch (Organization; Nizich, Ivana (1992). War Crimes in Bosnia-Hercegovina. Human Rights Watch. ISBN 978-1-56432-083-4.
  7. "Bosniak Fighters Jailed for Massacre of Serbs". Balkan Insight. 14 January 2014.
  8. "Bosniak Ex-Fighter Jailed for Serdari Village Massacre". Balkan Insight. 4 February 2016.
  9. "Kotor-Varoš - Sudski utvrđene činjenice iz rata u BiH" (in Bosnian). 2023-01-27. Retrieved 2024-11-18.
  10. Agius, Janu, Taya, Carmel, Ivana, Chikako (1 September 2004). "PRED PRETRESNIM VIJEĆEM II" (PDF). Međunarodni sud za krivično gonjenje osoba odgovornih za teška kršenja međunarodnog humanitarnog prava počinjena na teritoriji bivše Jugoslavije od 1991. godine United Nations. p. 216.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: multiple names: authors list (link)
  11. B, Ante (2018-06-12). "12. lipnja 1992. Kotor Varoš – zašto Hrvati malo znaju o ovom velikom srpskom zločinu?". Kamenjar (in Croatian). Retrieved 2024-07-03.
  12. https://balkaninsight.com/2015/11/18/six-bosnian-serbs-arrested-for-crimes-in-kotor-varos-11-18-2015/

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