Operation Spider (, ÃÂÿõÃÂðÃÂøÃÂð ÃÂðÃÂú) were a series of military actions in northwestern Bosnia that began in November 1994 and continued until December 1994. It was a combined effort of Republika Srpska and the Republic of Serb Krajina to recover the territory of the Autonomous Province of Western Bosnia (APZB), which was a key ally of the Serbs. Franko Simatoviàand Jovica Stanià ¡iàcommanded the offensive. The Bosnian central government had previously overrun and seized the territory. The offensive ended in a Serb victory and the Autonomous Province of Western Bosnia remained in existence until the fall of its key ally, the Republic of Serbian Krajina, and the subsequent end of the war.
The Army of the Republic of Bosnia and Herzegovina (ARBiH) 5th corps, under Bosnian general Atif DudakoviÃÂ and Hamdija AbdiÃÂ, conducted an offensive into the Autonomous Province of Western Bosnia on August 21, 1994, and completely overrun the entire province on August 22, 1994. During this offensive, around 40,000 Muslims loyal to Fikret AbdiÃÂ fled to the Republic of Serbian Krajina. Fikret AbdiÃÂ, the former president of the APZB, had already fled to Croatia (Republic of Serbian Krajina), where he stayed until his province was liberated and restored.
After AbdiÃÂâÂÂs forces had been defeated and dispersed from their âÂÂcapitalâ in August, most of his supporters and former soldiers fled into the RSK, settling in refugee camps in UN Sector North, southeast of Karlovac. On 8 November, UN observers noted that the SVK had begun recruiting able-bodied Muslim males from among the refugees. The SVK was reforming some 4,000âÂÂ5,000 of AbdiÃÂâÂÂs troops into three brigades: 1st Velika Kladuà ¡a, 2nd Cazin, and 3rd VrnograàBrigades. On 10 November, the new formations began taking up positions along the RSK border near Velika Kladuà ¡a.
In actual command of these puppet troops was a newly formed Operational Group âÂÂPaukâ (Spider) commanded by SVK Major General Mile Novakoviàand Serbian State Security Department (RDB) Colonel âÂÂRajaâ BozoviÃÂ, a veteran special operations officer. A key deputy of RDB chief Jovica Stanià ¡iÃÂ, Franko SimatoviàâÂÂFrenkiâÂÂ, oversaw Novakoviàand BozoviÃÂ's work. To stiffen the AbdiàunitsâÂÂas well as allied SVK ground forcesâÂÂNovakoviàand Boà ¾oviàcould call on a bevy of elite Yugoslav Army, Serbian RDB and Serbian Volunteer Guard (SDG) troops.âÂÂ* Elements of the VJâÂÂs 63rd Airborne Brigade/ Corps of Special Units, plus SimatovicâÂÂs âÂÂRed Beretâ special operations unit, as well as elements of the SDGâÂÂprobably about 500 troops combinedâÂÂwere to provide the spearhead for the APWB attack.
On 16 November, this new army attacked across the border toward Velika Kladuà ¡a. AbdiÃÂâÂÂs reconstructed force amounted to some 4,000 to 5,000 troops, bolstered by about 2,500 SVK troops in two tactical groups and some 500 Yugoslav Army and Serbian RDB/MUP special operations troops, under the command of SVK Major General Mile Novakoviàand Serbian RDB Colonel âÂÂRajaâ BozoviÃÂ. The few 5th Corps formations put up a stiff defense as the Serb/NOZB forces lapped around both ARBiH flanks on the north and south sides of Velika Kladuà ¡a in an attempt to pinch it off.
During the first two weeks of December, SVK/NOZB forces led by the Serbian special operations troops hammered 5th Corps positions and inched forward against a tenacious defense. The Serb commandersâ objective remained to force the ARBiH from the town with a pincer movement rather than a frontal assault. On 15âÂÂ16 December the joint Serb/NOZB units seized key high ground overlooking the main 5th Corps supply line into the town. This forced the remaining ARBIH troops to withdraw to avoid being cut off. By 17 December Velika Kladuà ¡a was under Serb/NOZB control. Although battles were to continue throughout the enclave for over a weekâÂÂuntil the implementation of the nationwide cease-fire negotiated by former US President Jimmy CarterâÂÂthe fall of Velika Kladuà ¡a was the last major action of the campaign.
The aftermath of this operation left the 5th Corps still encircled by the APZB, the Republic of Serbian Krajina, and the Republika Srpska. This encirclement continued until Operation Storm, when the Republic of Serbian KrajinaâÂÂa key ally to the APZBâÂÂwas defeated in August 1995, marking a huge turning point for the Bosnian War and Croatian War of Independence. The APZB had no strength to take on the Bosnian Army, and were completely overrun by the 5th Corps in just one day, with Velika Kladuà ¡a being taken when Operation Storm ended on August 7, 1995.
Operation Spider and Operation Storm left many towns forever destroyed and ruined, most of which were on the frontlines of the conflict. There are about 8 ruined towns in the area: 3 next to BihaÃÂ, 1âÂÂ2 next to Velika Kladuà ¡a, and 2âÂÂ3 in the middle of the area.