Siege of Sarajevo (1992-1996)

The Siege of Sarajevo was a pivotal event during the Bosnian War, part of the violent breakup of Yugoslavia. Summary:When?…

By Staff , in Bosnia and Herzegovina , at June 23, 2025 Tags: 1992, bosnia and herzegovina

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The Siege of Sarajevo was a pivotal event during the Bosnian War, part of the violent breakup of Yugoslavia.

Summary:
When? April 5, 1992 – February 29, 1996
Where? Sarajevo, capital of Bosnia and Herzegovina
Who? Bosnian Serb forces (Army of Republika Srpska) vs. Bosnian government (mainly Bosniaks), with civilians trapped in the middle
What? The longest siege of a capital city in modern history—almost 4 years

Context:
After Bosnia and Herzegovina declared independence from Yugoslavia in March 1992, the situation escalated fast. The Bosnian Serbs, backed by Slobodan Milošević’s Serbia and the Yugoslav People’s Army (JNA), opposed this move and started carving out territories for a Serb state within Bosnia.

Sarajevo, a multi-ethnic city with Muslims (Bosniaks), Serbs, Croats, and others living together, became a flashpoint. The Bosnian Serb forces quickly surrounded the city from the hills.

The Siege:
Encirclement: Serb forces encircled Sarajevo with artillery, tanks, and snipers in the hills.
Cut Off: The city was effectively cut off from the rest of the world—no electricity, limited food, water, or medical supplies.
Sniper Alley: Infamous part of the city where civilians were regularly picked off by snipers—just walking across the street could be fatal.
Shelling: On average, 300 shells per day, with spikes up to 3,777 shells in one day.
Civilians Targeted: Markets, hospitals, schools—civilian infrastructure was deliberately hit.

Human Toll:
Death toll: Estimated 13,000+ people killed, including about 5,000 civilians.
Children: Over 1,500 children were killed.
Psychological trauma: A generation grew up under siege—scarred by the constant threat of death.

International Response:
UNPROFOR: United Nations deployed peacekeepers, but their role was heavily criticized—they were often seen as passive and ineffective.
Airlift: A massive UN humanitarian airlift helped deliver aid (longest in history).
NATO intervention: Eventually, NATO launched air strikes against Serb positions in 1995, which was a turning point.

Aftermath:
The siege ended in early 1996 after the Dayton Accords (late 1995) brought peace.
Sarajevo was left in ruins—infrastructure destroyed, trust shattered.
War crimes: Many Bosnian Serb leaders, including Radovan Karadžić and Ratko Mladić, were later tried for genocide and crimes against humanity.