|
|
BACKGROUND
Although initiated in response to the Bosnian Serb Army
(BSA) shelling of the Sarajevo market place on 28 Aug 95,
Operation DELIBERATE FORCE was the culmination of events
and related planning over a long period.
The warring factions disregard for UN mandates regarding
Safe Areas and heavy weapons exclusion zones (EZs), targeting
of NATO and UN aircraft and ground forces, and increased
factional fighting during the Fall and Winter of 1994,
dictated prudent military contingency planning. Key events
during this period:
- Ministers of Defense met informally in Seville to
discuss proposals for more timely and effective use of NATO
airpower (Sep 94)
- Several meetings of the North Atlantic Council (NAC) and
meetings between NATO and UN representatives took place
resulting in agreement on revised standards for the
application of NATO airpower (Oct 94)
- NATO airstrike on Udbina airfield in Krajina Serb-held
Croatia in response to attacks by fighters from that airfield
on the Bihac Safe Area (Nov 94)
- NATO airstrikes on surface-to-air missile (SAM) sites in
Northwest B-H in response to attacks from those sites on NATO
aircraft (Nov 94)
- NAC decisions expanding authorization to respond to the
air defense threat to NATO aircraft (Nov-Dec 94)
As a result of these events, two plans were formulated:
DEAD EYE: an air protection plan to disrupt the
integrated air defense system (IADS) in Bosnia and thus
reduce the risk to NATO aircraft flying in
Bosnia-Herzegovina. DEAD EYE targets included:
- Key air defense communications nodes
- Air defense command and control facilities
- Early warning radar sites
- Known surface-to-air missile (SAM) sites
- SAM support facilities
DELIBERATE FORCE: an air attack plan to reduce
military capability to threaten or attack safe areas and
UN forces. DELIBERATE FORCE targets included:
- Fielded forces/heavy weapons
- Command and control facilities
- Direct and essential military support facilities
- Supporting infrastructure/lines of communication
DELIBERATE FORCE targets were approved for planning
through the Joint Targeting Board (JTB) process
established by NATO and the UN. Joint validation of targets as being
properly considered and appropriately linked to UN/NATO mandated
mission objectives. DEAD-EYE, NATO air protection plan targets also
reviewed.
Detailed planning and refinement continued as events
escalated through the Spring and Summer of 1995 following the
expiration of the Carter cease-fire (Dec 94-Mar 95). Key
events:
- Dual-key NATO airstrikes on Pale ammunition storage
depot, 25-26 May 95, in response to:
- BSA artillery fire into Sarajevo from UN-monitored
weapons collection points near Sarajevo.
- BSA removal of weapons from weapons collection points
and continued shelling of the Safe Area.
- BSA take UN hostages as a response to NATO airstrikes
- BSA shoot-down a NATO F-16, 2 Jun 95
- BSA overrun the Srebrenica Safe Area, 11 Jul 95
- BSA lay siege to the Zepa Safe Area in mid-July (Zepa
falls 26 Jul 95)
- At the London Conference, 21 July, ministers agreed that
"an attack on Gorazde will be met by substantial and decisive
airpower".
- NAC decisions of 25 July and 1 Aug 95 specified that
further Bosnian Serb offensive action must be met with a firm
and rapid response with the aim of deterring attacks on Safe
Areas and responding, if necessary, through the timely and
effective use of airpower...until attacks on or threats to
the Safe Areas have ceased.
- Graduated NATO air operation triggered by:
- Any concentration of forces and/or heavy weapons,
and the conduct of other military preparations which, in the
common judgement of the NATO and UN military commanders,
presents a direct threat to the safe areas , or
- Direct attacks (e.g. ground, shelling, or aircraft)
on the Safe Areas.
- Authorized operations to support the defense of the
Safe Areas within a wider zone of action (ZOA) than had
previously been considered.
- Using the latest NAC guidance, NATO air planners:
- Developed individual air attack plans for the defense of
each Safe Area.
- Further refined the DEAD-EYE air protection plan.
- Integrated individual plans into a comprehensive
graduated air strike plan under the name of Operation
DELIBERATE FORCE.
Operation DELIBERATE FORCE was briefed by Admiral Smith
and Lt Gen Ryan to The Honorable Willie Claes, NATO Secretary
General, and General Joulwan, SACEUR on 3 Aug 95
A Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) was signed by Admiral
Smith and Lt Gen Janvier, Force Commander UNPF which
contained the joint UN-NATO arrangements for implementing the
actions specified in the NAC and UN Security Council
decisions (10 Aug 95)
Consistent with the MOU, and following coordination with
Lt Gen Smith, COMD UNPROFOR, Lt Gen Ryan, COMAIRSOUTH,
briefed the concept of operations for Operation DELIBERATE
FORCE and obtained agreement in principle from CINCSOUTH and
FC UNPF for both the operation and associated targets (14 Aug
95)
Additionally, in accordance with the MOU, an Air-Land
Coordination Document was developed by COMAIRSOUTH, the NATO
air component commander, COMD UNPROFOR in Sarajevo, and Maj
Gen David Pennyfather at the Rapid Reaction Force Operational
Staff Headquarters in Kiseljak, specifying the necessary
operational details of joint/combined operations.
|