Attacks on Vrnograč

Before 1993, the town was occupied by ARBiH, who killed civilians who supported the NOZB and destroying houses and infrastructure and displacing hundreds of civilians,[1][4] for around a year. The ARBiH kept this town under their control, mostly the 5th Corps under General Atif Dudaković. In mid-May Abdić ordered an attack to re-take the small town, starting Operation Vrnograč.[1][3]

In May, NOZB started raiding the town. Fighters began by taking a few houses and a store, coming down day after day and taking more and more. Civilians aided the NOZB in advancing further in a series of firefights.[5] The NOZB managed to repel the ARBiH counter offensive on the town without suffering any casualties, forcing the unit to retreat to Bihać and Bužim.[1][2][3] In an interview the day after the battle, the Commander of a Brigade, Admir Mulalić said that the ARBiH was mistreating citizens, destroying factories and houses, displacing hundreds and hundreds, after losing the battle. Once Vrnograč fell into the hands of NOZB, a reporter asked whether the town was safe, and Mulalić said that ARBiH has no remaining ways of again entering Vrnograč and that the village is safe, but that ARBiH still constantly will continue their small shelling over the night. He also stated that Abdić will pay to fix the factories and the houses, and will make sure all displaced citizens will safely return to the town.[1][2]

The town of Vrnograč had been held by the NOZB for a long time and had become one of the main strongholds for the small country,[3] Mulalić also said soon enough Autonomous Province of Western Bosnia will become an Republic,[1] and that day by day they are advancing further together with help of the VRS. Afterwards, the town was re-taken after Operation Tiger, but later re-established during Operation Spider.