Surprise attack against the Bosnian Serb village of Kravica by the Army of Bosnia and Herzegovina on Orthodox Christmas Day, 7 January 1993
A surprise ARBiH attack on Orthodox Christmas Day 1993 killed 41–48 Bosnian Serbs and became a contested war crimes case at the ICTY.
Key Facts
- Date of attack
- 7 January 1993 (Orthodox Christmas Day)
- Total Serb deaths
- 41–48 people
- Serb soldier deaths
- 30–35 soldiers
- Serb civilian deaths
- 11–13 civilians
- ICTY verdict (Naser Orić)
- Acquitted on all charges on appeal
By the Numbers
Location
Cause → Event → Consequence
The ARBiH, operating from the Srebrenica enclave, deliberately planned the assault to coincide with Serbian Orthodox Christmas, calculating that Bosnian Serb villagers and fighters would be unprepared and off-guard during the religious holiday.
On 7 January 1993, ARBiH forces attacked the Bosnian Serb village of Kravica, killing between 41 and 48 people — 30 to 35 soldiers and 11 to 13 civilians. Republika Srpska also alleged that homes were systematically burned, though this could not be independently verified.
The attack became the subject of controversy and legal proceedings at the International Criminal Tribunal for the former Yugoslavia. Naser Orić was tried for charges related to the killings but was acquitted at trial and again on appeal, leaving the event's legal characterization unresolved.
Belligerents & Mobilization Analysis
Side A
1 belligerent
Naser Orić.
Side B
1 belligerent