Siege of Bihać (1992–1995)

The Siege of Bihać was a prolonged military engagement during the Bosnian War, lasting from June 1992 to August 1995. It involved the Army of Republika Srpska (VRS), supported by the Army of the Republic of Serbian Krajina (ARSK), and later by the People's Defence of Western Bosnia, against the Army of the Republic of Bosnia and Herzegovina (ARBiH) forces defending the Bihać pocket.

The Bihać pocket, located in northwestern Bosnia and Herzegovina, held significant strategic importance. Controlled by the ARBiH, it bordered Croatia and presented a salient deep within Serb-held territory. The VRS and ARSK aimed to capture Bihać, connecting their territories and eliminating a key ARBiH stronghold. Fikret Abdić's autonomous "Republic of Western Bosnia," allied with the Serbs, also contributed to the siege.

The siege resulted in a humanitarian crisis, with the civilian population facing severe shortages of food, water, medicine, and electricity. The area was largely cut off from outside aid, and subjected to relentless artillery and sniper fire. The ARBiH forces, despite being outnumbered and outgunned, managed to hold the pocket for over three years.

In August 1995, Operation Storm, a large-scale Croatian military offensive, broke the siege. Croatian forces advanced into the Bihać region, driving back the VRS and ARSK and linking up with the ARBiH. This marked a significant turning point in the Bosnian War.

The Siege of Bihać is remembered for the resilience of the ARBiH defenders and the suffering endured by the civilian population. It highlighted the complex alliances and shifting battle lines that characterized the Bosnian War. The events surrounding the siege have also been the subject of war crimes investigations.