(2013-0768-F) Operation Storm

The materials in FOIA 2013-0768-F are a selective body of documents responsive to the topic of the FOIA. Researchers should consult the archivist about related material. (See 2013-0656-M and 2013-0682-M). Operation Storm was a large land battle where Croatia had a decisive victory over neighboring Serbia. The military engagement officially lasted three days from August 4th - 7th, 1995. Losses sustained by the advancing Croatian Army are usually cited as 174 killed and 1,430 wounded, with the Serbians suffering approximately 560 troops killed in the battle. The Croatian Army also captured 4,000 prisoners of war, 54 armored and 497 other vehicles, six aircraft, hundreds of artillery pieces and over 4,000 infantry weapons. Four UN peacekeepers were also killed and 16 were injured. The Croatian capture of the city of Bosansko Grahovo just before the battle officially started, combined with the special police's advance to Gracac, made the Serbian capital city of Knin nearly impossible to defend for the Serbians and the capital fell on the second day of the battle, August 5th . The decisive defeat of the Serbian armed forces in Operation Storm led the Bosnian Serbs to realize that a settlement in Bosnia and Herzegovina had to be negotiated as soon as possible. The success of Operation Storm combined with Operation Mistral 2, a month later, coupled with a devastating NATO air campaign in Bosnia and Herzegovina led to the start of peace talks that would eventually result in the Dayton Agreement in November 1995. Records responsive to this request consist of memoranda, agendas, discussion papers, reports, emails, cables and other planning materials concerning Bosnia, Croatia and the former Yugoslavia for National Security Council Deputies Committee Meetings and for National Security Council Principal Committee meetings. The researcher should note that many of the records released in response to this FOIA request are duplicates of materials that were declassified in October 2013 and are available on the Clinton Digital Library website. In addition, materials responsive to this FOIA are also located in several previously processed FOIA and Mandatory Declassification Review (MDR) requests: 2006-0647-F (Genocide in Yugoslavia) 2008-0994-F (Bosnia) 2010-0533-M (Minutes from NSC Principals and Deputies Meetings on Bosnia) 2012-0797-F (Presidential Review Directive 1 (PRD/NSC-1) and the Former Yugoslavia) 2012-0798-F (Principals and Deputies Committee Meetings on Bosnia and the Former Yugoslavia) 2013-0682-M (NSC Principals and Deputies Meetings on Bosnia) 2013-0687-F (Alexander Vershbow’s Bosnia Files) 2014-0293-M (NSC Principals and Deputies Meetings on Bosnian War Criminals) The majority of the records related to this FOIA case are closed for national security reasons.