Army of RBiH liberated Bosanski Petrovac 22 years ago

On this day 22 years ago, units of the Army of the Republic of Bosnia and Herzegovina liberated Bosanski Petrovac in the "SANA 95" operation, writes Patria agency.

After thorough preparations, operation "SANA 95" began on September 13, 1995, exactly at 6 AM. Already at 6:30 AM, the enemy defense line was breached in several places.

After midnight, specifically at 1:10 AM, units of the 502nd Knightly Mountain Brigade entered Bosanski Petrovac, and the rest of the day was used for clearing the terrain and liquidating and capturing shattered enemy forces. Large quantities of weapons, ammunition, artillery pieces, material-technical means, war technology, and equipment were captured in Bosanski Petrovac.

After a short rest, on September 16, the order of the commander of the Fifth Corps, General Atif Dudaković, was conveyed to advance towards Ključ with forced marches. Units were sent towards Ključ in a marching column by motor vehicles. Members of the 510th Liberation Brigade also moved towards that city, leading successful battles on the direction of Begova Glava - Veliki Ljutoč - Dubovsko - Vrtoče - Bosanski Petrovac.

After fierce battles at Lanište, in Velagići, and in Pudin Han, around 9:00 PM, units of the 501st and 510th Mountain Brigades victoriously entered Ključ. There was no time for celebration; the next day, in the early morning hours, the 510th Glorious Mountain Brigade moved towards Sanski Most in combat formation.

The Chetnik Zvornik Brigade was shattered in Donji Ramići, and fierce battles were also fought in the Krasulje area, and after their liberation, Vrhpolje followed. Fighters from Ključ and Sanski victoriously returned to their homeland. Sanski Most was there, right in front of them. Shortly before our forces arrived in the Vrhpolje area, the enemy managed to mine the bridge in Vrhpolje, thus slowing down the advance of the Fifth Corps units.

In the final preparations for the "Sana 95" operation, General Alagić was one of the members of the team that coordinated combat actions with parts of the Croatian Army and HVO. The period from September 18 to September 10 is characterized by the fact that Chetnik forces, with all available manpower and the engagement of artillery and armored-mechanized forces, constantly tried to stop the advance of the Army of RBiH units.

Jointly acting units of the 502nd Knightly Mountain Brigade, the First Guards, and the 510th Liberation Brigade struck fiercely on September 9 in the direction of Banjci - Smajino Brdo - Donji Dabar - Sanski Most. Offensive actions proceeded according to plan, and the enemy was forced to retreat, and our units proceeded to the final phases of the city's liberation and the pursuit of the enemy whose forces were retreating in disarray. Artillerymen of the Fifth Corps made a significant contribution to this advance of our forces.

Fleeing from the Army of BiH advancing towards Sanski Most, the Chetniks mined the bridge over the Sana River between Tomina and Vrhpolje in order to stop them in their fierce advance. They did not succeed. Continuously fighting, on the evening of September 9, around 11:30 PM, parts of the 502nd Knightly Mountain Brigade and the BVP of the Fifth Corps crossed the bridge over the Sana River and entered the city center. The enemy still offered fierce resistance from the city post office, but not for long.

Immediately after the liberation of the city, from other directions, fighting continuously, other units from the Fifth and Seventh Corps of the Army of RBiH arrived. Intelligence data indicated that excellent conditions had been created for the liberation of Bosanski Novi, Prijedor, Bosanska Gradiška, Bosanska Kostajnica, and Banja Luka. The Dayton Peace Agreement saved the aggressor forces from final defeat.

At 1:10 AM on September 14, 1995, units of the 502nd Knightly Mountain Brigade entered Bosanski Petrovac, and the rest of the day was used for clearing the terrain and liquidating and capturing shattered enemy forces.