Operation Autumn '94

This article is about the operation carried out by the ARBiH in November 1994. For other operations codenamed "Operation Autumn '94", see Battle of Kupres (1994).

The Operation Autumn '94 (in Bosnian: Operacija Jesen '94), also called the Second Mitrovdan offensive (in Serbian Latin: Druga mitrovdanska ofanziva; in Serbian Cyrillic: Друга митровданска офанзива) was an operation carried out by the ARBiH against the VRS during the Bosnian War, with the goal of taking control over Podvelež and Velež, south-east of Mostar.

Operation Autumn '94
Part of the Bosnian War
The front in late Autumn 1994. Operation Autumn '94 is rapresented by the 2 green arrows south-east of Mostar.
Date 11–20 November 1994 Location Vranjevići, Podvelež and Velež, near Mostar, BiH Result Army of Republika Srpska victory
Belligerents
Republika Srpska	Bosnia and Herzegovina
Commanders and leaders
Zoran Purkovic	Ramiz Dreković Nezim "Muderis" Halilović (WIA) Esad Humo
Units involved
Army of Republika Srpska Herzegovina corps (VRS) 2nd Herzegovinian Light Infantry Brigade 8th Motorized Brigade Garda Panteri	Army of the Republic of Bosnia and Herzegovina 4th Corps 41st Mostar Brigade 4th Muslim Liberation Brigade "Škorpioni" Patriotic League Black Swans
Strength
About 4,000 men	2,600 men
Casualties and losses
22 killed 217 wounded 3 captured	200+ killed Hundreds wounded 113 captured

Background

Throughout 1994, Bosniak forces in Herzegovina directed their attacks on the Herzegovina Corps of the Army of Republika Srpska during the Siege of Mostar. Since the Bosniak army lacked armored vehicles and large-calibre weapons but was far more numerous in infantry, the ARBiH developed the doctrine of inserting large sabotage groups into the rear of the VRS. After the October unsuccessful attacks on Konjic, which was defended by the 2nd Herzegovina Brigade of the VRS, the ARBiH shifted its focus to the Mostar–Nevesinje direction, launching the operation codenamed Autumn '94. However, the operation was planned poorly and the VRS already knew about it, so they inserted some defences.

Operation Autumn '94

The ARBiH began preparing the attack by inserting 1,000 saboteurs, part of the Black Swans unit, behind the lines of the VRS 8th Motorized Brigade on November 9. Part of the saboteurs were already found by a group of about 20 fighters in the area of Bruska on that same evening. During the following clashes, 113 fighters of the second battalion of the 41st Mostar Brigade of the ARBiH were encircled, and then captured after the commander of the 8th Motorized Brigade Zoran Purkovic ordered a circular defense and increased vigilance. The following night, more saboteurs continued to insert, but they were met with fierce fire by the Serbian fighters. The battle broke out on November 11, when the ARBiH launched a frontal attack, but the VRS fighters defended all positions, especially in the village of Banjdol. By the end of the day, the ARBiH began to retreat, while minor skirmishes with broken Bosniak groups continued in the following days, that were all repelled.