Operation Spider (aggressor offensive)
Joint offensive from Petrova Gora
Date
16 November 1994 - 4 August 1995
Type
Offensive
Result
Commander
General SVK Mile Novaković; pukovnik RDB Radojica Božović 'Kobac'
Course of the Operation
Operation 'Spider' was a joint offensive of Serbian forces with headquarters at Petrova Gora. It was commanded by SVK General Mile Novaković and RDB Colonel Radojica Božović 'Kobac', and overseen by Jovica Stanišić and Franko Simatović 'Frenki'. The offensive was divided into three tactical groups: Abdić's, Milorad Ulemek 'Legija's', and 'Kobac's'. According to evidence from the indictment against Momčilo Perišić, about 6,638 Serbian troops took part. In the first two months, 91 were killed and 180 wounded among the aggressor forces.
Key Facts
The offensive headquarters was at Petrova Gora
It was overseen by Jovica Stanišić and Franko Simatović 'Frenki'
About 6,638 Serbian troops took part (evidence from the Perišić indictment)
Outcome
The offensive lasted from 16 November 1994 to 4 August 1995. The aggressor forces retook part of the territory, but the Bihać Pocket did not fall.
Background
Operation “Spider” was a joint offensive of Serbian forces with headquarters at Petrova Gora. It lasted from 16 November 1994 to 4 August 1995, and aimed to capture the Bihać Pocket and break the 5th Corps of the ARBiH.
Course of the operation
The offensive was commanded by SVK General Mile Novaković and RDB Colonel Radojica Božović “Kobac”, and overseen by Jovica Stanišić and Franko Simatović “Frenki”. It was divided into three tactical groups: Abdić’s, Milorad Ulemek “Legija’s”, and “Kobac’s”. According to evidence from the indictment against Momčilo Perišić, about 6,638 Serbian troops took part. In the first two months, 91 were killed and 180 wounded among the aggressor forces.
Outcome
The aggressor forces retook part of the territory, but the Bihać Pocket did not fall. The offensive lasted until 4 August 1995, when it was halted by the deblockade of the pocket within Operation Storm.
Significance
Spider was the largest coordinated aggressor offensive on the Bihać Pocket. The fact that the pocket did not fall, despite the engagement of over 6,600 soldiers, testifies to the resistance of the 5th Corps.
Sources
Data retrieved from 5korpus.com/operacije/pauk-ofanziva/ https://bs.wikipedia.org/wiki/Operacija_%22Pauk%22 https://saff.ba/2023/02/18/operacija-pauk/ https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Operation_Spider
Details
VRS, SVK and RDB forces - three tactical groups (Abdić; Milorad Ulemek 'Legija'; 'Kobac')
Capture of the Bihać Pocket and breaking the 5th Corps of the ARBiH
91 poginulih, 180 ranjenih (prva dva mjeseca)
nepoznato
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