Battle of Vareš

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Battle of Vareš

The Battle of Vareš took place from 23 October to 4 November 1993 during the Croat–Bosniak War, part of the Bosnian War. Vareš is a mining town about 50 km northwest of Sarajevo, near Bosnian Serb front lines. Before October 1993 it was ethnically mixed with a slight Croat majority and had largely avoided the violence seen elsewhere. Its industry and road links made it strategically important, including connections to Sarajevo, Breza, and Tuzla, and it was a route for smuggling.

During 1993, Bosniak refugees arrived, changing the local balance. Disputes grew between the Croatian Defence Council (HVO) and the Army of the Republic of Bosnia and Herzegovina (ARBiH) over control of the area. In October, hardline HVO commander Ivica Rajić arrived in Vareš and quickly took de facto control, replacing local leadership with allies from outside the area. Bosniak civilians faced harassment and displacement.

The ARBiH moved its forces around the enclave. On 19 October ARBiH attacked Ratanj, then captured the Croat-majority Kopjari on 21 October, raising tensions. On 23 October HVO forces attacked the Bosniak village Stupni Do, about 4 km south of Vareš. The village, defended by a small local unit, was destroyed and many civilians were killed. UN forces were initially blocked from reaching the site; when Nordic Battalion troops did enter days later, they found extensive destruction and many dead. Estimates of those killed range from at least 23 to over 60; investigations blamed extremist HVO elements linked to Rajić, though the locally based Bobovac Brigade was accused of obstructing the UN inquiry.

In response, ARBiH launched a coordinated offensive on 2–3 November from multiple directions. The HVO abandoned Vareš, retreating toward Dastansko and then Kiseljak, and thousands of Croat civilians fled with them. On 4 November ARBiH forces entered Vareš and took full control. Several HVO leaders were later removed from their posts, and Ivica Rajić was indicted by the ICTY for war crimes related to Stupni Do. ARBiH casualties were around 80 killed; HVO casualties are not known.