French UNPROFOR peacekeepers recaptured Vrbanja Bridge from Bosnian Serb forces in 1995, marking a rare assertive UN combat action during the Bosnian War.
Key Facts
- Date
- 27 May 1995
- French hostages taken
- 12 soldiers
- French assault force
- 30 (platoon) + 70 infantry support soldiers
- French casualties
- 2 killed, 17 wounded
- VRS casualties
- 4 killed, several wounded, 4 captured
- Assault commander
- Captain François Lecointre
By the Numbers
Location
Cause → Event → Consequence
During the Bosnian War's siege of Sarajevo, Bosnian Serb Army (VRS) forces seized French UNPROFOR observation posts at both ends of Vrbanja Bridge on 27 May 1995, taking 12 French peacekeepers hostage. Ten were removed from the site while two were retained at the bridge as human shields against a counterattack.
A platoon of 30 French peacekeepers under Captain François Lecointre, reinforced by 70 French infantrymen and armoured vehicles providing direct fire, launched an assault to retake the bridge. Army of Bosnia and Herzegovina units also fired on the VRS-held posts independently, accidentally wounding one French hostage. The bridge was recaptured at a cost of two French soldiers killed and 17 wounded.
Following the battle, VRS forces noticeably reduced their willingness to engage French UN peacekeepers deployed in Sarajevo. The action demonstrated that UN forces could respond with combat force when directly challenged. Captain Lecointre went on to become a general and was appointed France's Chief of the Defence Staff in 2017.
Belligerents & Mobilization Analysis
Side A
1 belligerent
Captain François Lecointre.
Side B
1 belligerent