View source for Operation Storm

{{Short description|1995 military offensive and last major battle of the Croatian War of Independence}}
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{{Good article}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=August 2023}}
{{Infobox military conflict
| conflict          = Operation Storm
| image             = Map 49 - Croatia - Operation Oluja, 4-8 August 1995.jpg
| image_size        = 270px
| caption           = Map of Operation Storm<br />Forces: {{legend inline|#b89835|Croatia}} {{legend inline|#b5666b|RSK}} {{legend inline|#628d3e|Bosnia and Herzegovina}}
| partof            = the [[Croatian War of Independence]], [[Bosnian War]] and the [[Intra-Bosnian Muslim War]]
| place             = [[Croatia]] and [[Republic of Bosnia and Herzegovina|Bosnia and Herzegovina]]
| date              = 4–7 August 1995 (major operations)<br>8–14 August 1995 (follow-up operations)
| territory         = Croatia regained {{convert|10400|km2|sqmi|abbr=on}} of territory.
| result            = Croatian and Bosnian victory
* Fall of [[Autonomous Province of Western Bosnia|Western Bosnia]] and [[Republic of Serbian Krajina|Serbian Krajina]]
* End of the [[Siege of Bihać (1992–1995)|Bihać siege]]
* Mass exodus of 200,000 Serb civilians from Croatia
| combatant1        = {{flag|Croatia}}<br />{{nowrap|{{flagdeco|Bosnia and Herzegovina|1992}} [[Republic of Bosnia and Herzegovina|Bosnia and Herzegovina]]}}<br />{{flag|Herzeg-Bosnia}}
| combatant2        = {{Flagicon image|State Flag of Serbian Krajina (1991).svg}} [[Republic of Serbian Krajina|Serbian Krajina]]<br/>{{flagcountry|Republika Srpska (1992–95)}}<br />{{flagicon image|Flag of the Autonomous Province of Western Bosnia.svg}} [[Autonomous Province of Western Bosnia|Western Bosnia]]
| commander1        = {{flagicon|Croatia}} [[Zvonimir Červenko]]<br />{{flagicon|Croatia}} [[Ante Gotovina]]<br />{{flagicon|Croatia}} [[Mirko Norac]]<br />{{flagicon|Croatia}} Miljenko Crnjac<br />{{flagicon|Croatia}} Ivan Basarac<br />{{flagicon|Croatia}} [[Petar Stipetić]]<br />{{flagicon|Croatia}} Luka Džanko<br /> {{flagicon|Republic of Bosnia and Herzegovina}} [[Alija Izetbegović]]<br />{{flagicon|Republic of Bosnia and Herzegovina}} [[Atif Dudaković]]<br>{{flagicon|Bosnia and Herzegovina|1992}} [[Izet Nanić]]{{KIA}}<ref name=BB416>{{harvnb|CIA|2002|p=416}}</ref><br />{{flagicon|Croatia}} [[Rahim Ademi]]
| commander2        = {{Flagicon image|State Flag of Serbian Krajina (1991).svg}} [[Mile Mrkšić]]<br />{{Flagicon image|State Flag of Serbian Krajina (1991).svg}} [[Mile Novaković]]<br />{{Flagicon image|State Flag of Serbian Krajina (1991).svg}} Slobodan Kovačević<br />{{Flagicon image|State Flag of Serbian Krajina (1991).svg}} Stevan Ševo<br />{{Flagicon image|State Flag of Serbian Krajina (1991).svg}} Čedo Bulat{{POW}}{{Surrendered}}<br />{{Flagicon image|State Flag of Serbian Krajina (1991).svg}} Milorad Stupar<br />{{Flagicon image|State Flag of Serbian Krajina (1991).svg}} Slobodan Tarbuk<br />{{flagicon|Republika Srpska (1992–95)}} [[Ratko Mladić]]<br />{{flagicon image|Flag of the Autonomous Province of Western Bosnia.svg}} [[Fikret Abdić]]{{Surrendered}}
| units1            = {{flagicon image|Flag of Croatian Army.svg}} [[Croatian Army]]<br />{{flagicon image|Emblème de l'Antiteroristička jedinica Lučko (ATJ Lučko).svg|border=|size=20px}} [[Croatian Special Police order of battle in 1991–1995|Croatian Special Police]]<br />{{flagicon image|Flag of the Army of the Republic of Bosnia and Herzegovina.svg}} [[Army of the Republic of Bosnia and Herzegovina|Army of Bosnia and Herzegovina]]<br />{{flagicon image|Flag of Croatian Defence Council.svg}} [[Croatian Defence Council]]
| units2            = {{flagicon image|War Flag of Serbian Krajina.svg}} [[Serbian Army of Krajina|Army of Serbian Krajina]]<br />{{flagicon image|border=|Patch of the Army of Republika Srpska.svg|size=23px}} [[Army of Republika Srpska]]<br />{{flagicon image|border=|Logo of the National Defense Of Western Bosnia.png|size=23px}} [[National Defence of the Autonomous Province of Western Bosnia|National Defence of the APZB]]
| strength1         = {{flagicon image|Flag of Croatian Army.svg}} Croatia: 130,000 soldiers<br />{{flagicon image|Flag of the Army of the Republic of Bosnia and Herzegovina.svg}} [[Army of the Republic of Bosnia and Herzegovina|ARBiH]]: 3,000 soldiers
| strength2         = {{flagicon image|War Flag of Serbian Krajina.svg}} [[Serbian Army of Krajina|ARSK]]: 27,000&ndash;34,000 men<br /> {{flagicon image|border=|Logo of the National Defense Of Western Bosnia.png|size=23px}} [[Autonomous Province of Western Bosnia|Western Bosnia]]: 4,000&ndash;5,000 men
| casualties1       = 174–211 killed<br />1,100–1,430 wounded<br/>3 captured
| casualties2       = 560 killed<br />4,000 [[POWs]]
| casualties3       = Serb civilian deaths:<br />214 (Croatian claim) &ndash; 1,192 (Serb claim)<br />~400 ([[Humanitarian Law Center]])<br/>
Croat civilian deaths: 42<br />Refugees:<br />150,000–200,000 [[Serbs]] from the former [[Republic of Serbian Krajina|RSK]]<br />21,000 Bosnian Muslims from the former [[Autonomous Province of Western Bosnia|APWB]]<br />22,000 Bosniaks and [[Croats]] from the [[Republika Srpska (1992–1995)|RS]]<br/> Other:<br />4 [[United Nations|UN]] peacekeepers killed and 16 wounded
}}
{{Campaignbox Croatian War of Independence}}
{{Campaignbox Bosnian War}}
{{Campaignbox Intra-Bosnian Muslim War}}

'''Operation Storm''' ({{lang-sh-Latn-Cyrl|Operacija Oluja|separator=" / "|Операција Олуја}}) was the last major battle of the [[Croatian War of Independence]] and a major factor in the outcome of the [[Bosnian War]]. It was a [[decisive victory]] for the [[Croatian Army]] (HV), which attacked across a {{convert|630|km|adj=on}} front against the self-declared [[proto-state]] [[Republic of Serbian Krajina]] (RSK), and a [[strategic victory]] for the [[Army of the Republic of Bosnia and Herzegovina]] (ARBiH). The HV was supported by the [[Croatian Special Police order of battle in 1991–1995|Croatian special police]] advancing from the [[Velebit]] Mountain, and the ARBiH located in the [[Bihać]] pocket, in the [[Army of the Republic of Serbian Krajina]]'s (ARSK) rear. The battle, launched to restore [[Croatia]]n control of {{convert|10400|km2|abbr=off}} of territory - representing 18.4% of the territory it claimed - and Bosniak control of [[Autonomous Province of Western Bosnia|Western Bosnia]], was the largest land battle that took place in Europe between the end of [[World War II]] and the [[2022 Russian invasion of Ukraine]].<ref>{{Cite web |last=Nagel |first=Hannes |title=Opinion: Operation Storm 2.0 or TKO in the Donbas |url=https://www.kyivpost.com/opinion/974 |archive-url=http://web.archive.org/web/20250825104713/https://www.kyivpost.com/opinion/974 |archive-date=2025-08-25 |access-date=2025-11-13 |website=www.kyivpost.com}}</ref> Operation Storm commenced at dawn on 4 August 1995 and was declared complete on the evening of 7 August, despite significant mopping-up operations against pockets of resistance lasting until 14 August.

Operation Storm was a strategic victory in the Bosnian War, effectively ending the [[Siege of Bihać (1992–1995)|siege of Bihać]] and placing the HV, [[Croatian Defence Council]] (HVO), and the ARBiH in a position to change the military balance of power in [[Republic of Bosnia and Herzegovina|Bosnia and Herzegovina]] through the subsequent [[Operation Mistral 2]]. The operation was conceived on HV and HVO advances made during [[Operation Summer '95]], when strategic positions allowing the rapid capture of the RSK capital [[Knin]] were gained, and on the continued arming and training of the HV since the beginning of the Croatian War of Independence, when the RSK was created during the Serb [[Log Revolution]] and [[Yugoslav People's Army]] intervention. The operation itself followed an unsuccessful [[United Nations]] (UN) peacekeeping mission and diplomatic efforts to settle the conflict.

The HV's and ARBiH's strategic success was a result of a series of improvements to the armies themselves, and crucial breakthroughs made in the ARSK positions that were subsequently exploited by the HV and the ARBiH. The attack was not immediately successful at all points, but seizing key positions led to the collapse of the ARSK command structure and overall defensive capability. The HV capture of [[Bosansko Grahovo]], just before the operation, and the special police's advance to [[Gračac]], made it nearly impossible to defend Knin. In [[Lika]], two guard brigades quickly cut the ARSK-held area, which lacked tactical depth and mobile reserve forces, and they isolated pockets of resistance, positioned a mobile force for a decisive northward thrust into the [[Karlovac]] Corps [[area of responsibility]] (AOR), and pushed ARSK towards [[Banovina (region)|Banovina]]. The defeat of the ARSK at [[Glina, Croatia|Glina]] and [[Petrinja]], after a tough defensive, defeated the ARSK Banija Corps as well, since its reserve was pinned down by the ARBiH. The RSK relied on the [[Republika Srpska (1992–1995)|Republika Srpska]] and [[Serbia and Montenegro|Yugoslav]] militaries as its strategic reserve, but they did not intervene in the battle. The United States also played a role in the operation by directing Croatia to a military consultancy firm, [[Military Professional Resources Inc.|Military Professional Resources Incorporated]] (MPRI), that signed a [[The Pentagon|Pentagon]]-licensed contract to advise, train, and provide intelligence to the Croatian army.

The HV and the special police suffered 174&ndash;211 killed or missing, while the ARSK had 560 soldiers killed. Four UN peacekeepers were also killed. The HV captured 4,000 [[prisoners of war]]. The number of Serb civilian deaths is disputed—Croatia claims that 214 were killed, while Serbian sources cite 1,192 civilians killed or missing. The Croatian population had been years prior subjected to ethnic cleansing in the areas held by ARSK by rebel Serb forces, with an estimated 170,000–250,000 expelled and hundreds killed. During and after the offensive, around 150,000–200,000 Serbs of the area formerly held by the ARSK had fled, and a variety of crimes were committed against some of the remaining civilians there by Croatian forces. On 4 August, RSK authorities ordered the evacuation of the population in the Northern Dalmatia and Lika areas, followed by Glina and [[Vrginmost]] on 6 August. The Croatian Serb population who fled formed one of the largest refugee populations in Europe.<ref name=adamjones>{{cite book |last1=Jones |first1=Adam |authorlink=Adam Jones (Canadian scholar)|title=Genocide: A Comprehensive Introduction |date=2023 |publisher=Taylor & Francis |isbn=978-1-000-95870-6 |language=en|page=64}}</ref>

The [[International Criminal Tribunal for the Former Yugoslavia]] (ICTY) later [[Trial of Gotovina et al|tried three Croatian generals]] charged with [[war crime]]s and partaking in a [[joint criminal enterprise]] designed to force the Serb population out of Croatia, although all three were ultimately acquitted, and the tribunal refuted charges of a criminal enterprise. The ICTY concluded that Operation Storm was not aimed at ethnic persecution, as civilians had not been deliberately targeted. The ICTY stated that the Croatian Army and Special Police committed a large number of crimes against the Serb population after the artillery assault, but that the state and military leadership were not responsible for their creation and organization, and that Croatia did not have the specific intent of displacing the country's Serb minority. However, Croatia adopted discriminatory measures to make it increasingly difficult for Serbs to return. [[Human Rights Watch]] reported that the vast majority of the abuses during the operation were committed by Croatian forces and that the abuses continued on a large scale for months afterwards, which included [[summary execution]]s of Serb civilians and the burning and destruction of Serb property. In 2010, [[Serbia]] filed a [[counterclaim]] against Croatia before the [[International Court of Justice]] (ICJ), [[Croatia–Serbia genocide case|claiming that the offensive constituted a genocide]].<ref>{{Cite news |date=2014-03-03 |title=Croatia accuses Serbia of 1990s genocide |url=https://www.bbc.com/news/world-europe-26415503 |access-date=2025-03-29 |work=BBC News |language=en-GB}}</ref> In 2015, the court ruled that neither Serbia nor Croatia proved sufficient evidence that either side committed [[genocide]], thereby dismissing both cases.<ref>{{Cite news |date=2015-02-03 |title=UN court dismisses Croatia and Serbia genocide claims |url=https://www.bbc.com/news/world-europe-31104973 |access-date=2025-03-29 |work=BBC News |language=en-GB}}</ref>

==Background==
{{Main|Breakup of Yugoslavia|Croatian War of Independence}}
[[File:CroatianSerbs.jpg|thumb|upright=1.35|Serb-populated areas in Croatia according to the 1981 census]]
A crisis emerged in Yugoslavia with the [[Revolutions of 1989|weakening]] of the [[Eastern Bloc|communist states in Eastern Europe]] towards the end of the [[Cold War]]. In Croatia, the regional branch of the [[League of Communists of Yugoslavia]], the [[League of Communists of Croatia]], had lost its ideological potency.<ref>{{cite journal | publisher = [[United States Institute of Peace]] | url = http://www.usip.org/publications/serbian-nationalism-and-origins-yugoslav-crisis | archive-url = https://archive.today/20120918000927/http://www.usip.org/publications/serbian-nationalism-and-origins-yugoslav-crisis | url-status = dead | archive-date = 18 September 2012 | title = Serbian Nationalism and the Origins of the Yugoslav Crisis |page=12 | last= Pešić | first= Vesna | author-link=Vesna Pešić | journal= Peaceworks | issue= 8 |date=April 1996 | access-date = 29 November 2012}}</ref><ref name="NYTimes-Kosovo-Repression">{{cite news|newspaper=[[The New York Times]]|url=http://topics.nytimes.com/top/news/international/countriesandterritories/serbia/kosovo/index.html|title=Kosovo|date=23 July 2010|access-date=10 December 2010|archive-date=23 October 2012|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20121023074115/http://topics.nytimes.com/top/news/international/countriesandterritories/serbia/kosovo/index.html|url-status=live}}</ref> The Republics of [[Socialist Republic of Slovenia|Slovenia]] and [[Socialist Republic of Croatia|Croatia]] advocated [[decentralization]].<ref name="NYT-Croatia-Prosperity-1985">{{cite news|newspaper=The New York Times|url=https://www.nytimes.com/1985/12/08/world/yugoslav-republic-jealously-guards-its-gains.html?ref=croatia|title=Yugoslav republic jealously guards its gains|author=Henry Kamm|author-link=Henry Kamm|date=8 December 1985|access-date=10 December 2010|archive-date=15 May 2013|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130515063701/http://www.nytimes.com/1985/12/08/world/yugoslav-republic-jealously-guards-its-gains.html?ref=croatia|url-status=live}}</ref> [[SR Serbia]], headed by [[Slobodan Milošević]], adhered to centralism and single-party rule. After a series of street protests dubbed [[Anti-bureaucratic revolution|anti-bureaucratic revolutions]] by his supporters in 1988-89 succeeded in overthrowing the government of the [[Socialist Republic of Montenegro]], as well as the governments of the Serbian autonomous provinces of [[Socialist Autonomous Province of Vojvodina|Vojvodina]] and [[Socialist Autonomous Province of Kosovo|Kosovo]], replacing their leaders with Milošević allies, Croatia and Slovenia turned against him.<ref name="Ambrosio">{{cite book |last=Ambrosio |first=Thomas |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=XuPEEAAAQBAJ&pg=PA33 |title=Irredentism: Ethnic Conflict and International Politics |publisher=Bloomsbury Publishing |year=2001 |isbn=978-0-313-07342-7 |pages=33–34}}</ref> 

On 8 July 1989, a large Serb nationalist rally was held in [[Knin]], during which banners threatening [[Yugoslav People's Army]] (JNA) intervention in Croatia, as well as [[Chetnik]] iconography, were displayed.<ref name=":2">{{Cite book |last=Glaurdić |first=Josip |title=The Hour of Europe: Western Powers and the Breakup of Yugoslavia |date=2011 |publisher=Yale University Press |isbn=978-0-300-16645-3 |location=New Haven, CT |pages=51–53}}</ref> During [[World War II in Yugoslavia]], they operated as "legalised" auxiliary forces under Axis control,<ref>Tomasevich, Jozo (1975). ''War and Revolution in Yugoslavia, 1941–1945: The Chetniks''. Stanford: Stanford University Press. {{ISBN|978-0-8047-0857-9}} pp. 224-225</ref> and most historians who have considered the question regard the [[Chetnik war crimes in World War II|Chetnik crimes]] against Muslims and Croats during this period as constituting [[genocide]]. In the autumn of 1989, the Serbian government pressured the Croatian government to allow a series of Serb nationalist rallies in the country. The Serbian media and various Serbian intellectuals had already begun to refer to the Croatian leadership as "[[Ustaše]]", and began to make reference to [[Genocide of Serbs in the Independent State of Croatia|genocide and other crimes committed by the Ustaše]] between 1941 and 1945. The Serbian political leadership approved of the rhetoric and accused the Croatian leadership of being "blindly nationalistic" when it objected.<ref name=":2" /> On 4 March 1990, 50,000 Serbs rallied at [[Petrova Gora]] and shouted negative remarks aimed at [[Franjo Tuđman]], chanted "[[Greater Serbia|This is Serbia]]", and expressed support for Milošević.<ref>{{Cite book |last=Goldstein |first=Ivo |title=Croatia: a history |date=2011 |publisher=Hurst |isbn=978-1-85065-525-1 |edition=3. impr |location=London |pages=214}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |date=2012-03-24 |title=UNHCR {{!}} Refworld {{!}} Yugoslavia: Demonstrations in Croatia and Vojvodina |url=http://www.unhcr.org/refworld/country,,,QUERYRESPONSE,HRV,4562d8b62,3ae6ab78c,0.html |access-date=2025-04-17 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120324161438/http://www.unhcr.org/refworld/country,,,QUERYRESPONSE,HRV,4562d8b62,3ae6ab78c,0.html |archive-date=24 March 2012 }}</ref> Tuđman came to prominence as a pro-Independence dissident, and his leadership was partially founded on an [[anti-Serb]] rhetoric and symbols.<ref>{{cite book |last1=Saideman |first1=Stephen M. |last2=Ayres |first2=R. William |title=For Kin or Country: Xenophobia, Nationalism, and War |date=2008 |publisher=Columbia University Press |isbn=978-0-23151-449-1 |page=74 |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=WAOxl4-HS1wC&pg=PA74}}</ref><ref>{{cite book |last1=Ciment |first1=James |last2=Hill |first2=Kenneth |title=Encyclopedia of Conflicts since World War II |date=2012 |publisher=Routledge |isbn=978-1-13659-621-6 |page=492 |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=qtvlVCB3rPwC&pg=PA492}}</ref>

In April–May 1990, Tuđman's right-wing, pro-independence [[Croatian Democratic Union]] (HDZ) triumphed in [[Socialist Republic of Croatia|Croatia]]'s [[1990 Croatian parliamentary election|first multi-party elections]].<ref name="Søberg&Ramet">{{cite book|last=Søberg|first=Marius|editor1-last=Matić|editor1-first=Davorka|editor2-last=Ramet|editor2-first=Sabrina P.|year=2007|title=Democratic Transition in Croatia: Value Transformation, Education, and Media|publisher=Texas A&M University Press|location=College Station, Texas|isbn=978-1-60344-452-1|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=lIcX_1DyNMUC|page=17, 42}}</ref> The HDZ's election victory caused consternation amongst much of the [[Serbs of Croatia|Croatian Serb]] population, who likened the resurgence of [[Croatian nationalism]] to the return of the [[fascist]] Ustaše regime, which ruled the [[Axis powers|Axis]] [[puppet state]] known as the [[Independent State of Croatia]] during [[World War II]]. This, in turn, fed a rise in [[Serbian nationalism]] in many Croatian Serb communities, which was encouraged by the government of the Socialist Republic of Serbia, led by Milošević.<ref name="Armatta16">{{harvnb|Armatta|2010|p=16}}</ref> Prominent members of the RSK government, including [[Milan Babić]] and [[Milan Martić]], later testified that Belgrade directed a [[propaganda]] campaign portraying the Serbs in Croatia as being threatened with genocide by the Croat majority.<ref>{{Cite web |date=26 June 2009 |title=The Prosecutor vs. Milan Babić - Judgement |url=https://www.icty.org/x/cases/babic/tjug/en/bab-sj040629e.pdf |website=International Criminal Tribunal for the former Yugoslavia}}</ref> The HDZ-led government promoted a traditionalist and exclusive vision of Croatia as a Croat state in which Serbs were unwelcome.<ref name="Søberg&Ramet" /> Many Serbs were removed from the bureaucracies and the police and replaced by ethnic Croats, bilingual road signs were torn down even in Serb-majority areas, and Ustaše symbols were sometimes restored.<ref>{{cite book |last1=Licklider |first1=Roy |last2=Bloom |first2=Mia |title=Living Together After Ethnic Killing: Exploring the Chaim Kaufman Argument |date=2013 |publisher=Routledge |isbn=9781317969891 |pages=157–158 |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=lVKzAQAAQBAJ&pg=PA157}}</ref>  

On 14 May 1990, the weapons of the [[Territorial Defense (Yugoslavia)|Territorial Defense]] of Croatia, in Croat-majority regions, were taken away by the [[Yugoslav People's Army]] (JNA).<ref>{{Cite book |last=Charles W. Ingrao, Thomas Allan Emmert |title=Confronting the Yugoslav Controversies: A Scholars' Initiative |publisher=Purdue University Press |year=2009 |isbn=978-1557535337 |pages=237, 240}}</ref> In August 1990, an insurgency known as the [[Log Revolution]] took place in Croatia centred on the predominantly Serb-populated areas of the [[Dalmatia]]n hinterland around the city of [[Knin]],<ref>{{harvnb|The New York Times|19 August 1990}}</ref> as well as in parts of the [[Lika]], [[Kordun]], and [[Banovina (region)|Banovina]] regions, and settlements in [[eastern Croatia]] with significant Serb populations.<ref name="MarticICTY">{{harvnb|ICTY|12 June 2007}}</ref> The areas were subsequently formed into an internationally un-recognized [[proto-state|quasi-state]], the [[Republic of Serbian Krajina]] (RSK), and after it declared its intention to [[secede]] from Croatia and join the [[Republic of Serbia (1990-2006)|Republic of Serbia]], the [[Government of the Republic of Croatia]] declared the RSK a rebellion.<ref>{{harvnb|The New York Times|2 April 1991}}</ref>

On 22 December 1990, a new [[Constitution of Croatia|Croatian constitution]] was ratified, which rejected the [[communist]] [[One-party state|one-party system]], adopted a [[Liberal democracy|liberal-democratic]] constitution, and dropped the 'Socialist' label from the country's name, becoming the Republic of Croatia.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Ustav Republike Hrvatske |url=https://narodne-novine.nn.hr/clanci/sluzbeni/1990_12_56_1092.html |access-date=2025-04-22 |website=narodne-novine.nn.hr}}</ref> Serbs were demoted from a constituent nation to a [[national minority]].<ref>{{cite book |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=oFXdiS25N78C&pg=PA118 |title=Central and Southeast European Politics since 1989 |date=2010 |publisher=Cambridge University Press |isbn=9781139487504 |editor1-last=Ramet |editor1-first=Sabrina P. |page=118}}</ref> The principal Serb political party in Croatia, the [[Serb Democratic Party (Croatia)|Serb Democratic Party]] (SDS), began building its national governmental entity to preserve rights that Serbs saw as being stripped away and to enhance the sovereignty of the Croatian Serbs.<ref>{{cite book |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=l2nofEbB4wgC&dq=serbs+constituent+nation+croatia&pg=PA83 |title=Words Over War: Mediation and Arbitration to Prevent Deadly Conflict |date=2000 |publisher=Rowman & Littlefield |isbn=9780847698936 |editor1-last=Greenberg |editor1-first=Melanie C. |page=83 |editor2-last=Barton |editor2-first=John H. |editor3-last=McGuinness |editor3-first=Margaret E.}}</ref> On 1 April 1991 Serb National Council declared that it would secede from Croatia.<ref name="NYTimes-Separation-1Apr1991">{{cite news |author=Chuck Sudetic |date=2 April 1991 |title=Rebel Serbs Complicate Rift on Yugoslav Unity |url=https://www.nytimes.com/1991/04/02/world/rebel-serbs-complicate-rift-on-yugoslav-unity.html?ref=croatia |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130518205440/http://www.nytimes.com/1991/04/02/world/rebel-serbs-complicate-rift-on-yugoslav-unity.html?ref=croatia |archive-date=18 May 2013 |access-date=11 December 2010 |newspaper=The New York Times}}</ref> Krajina assembly declared that "the territory of the SAO Krajina is a constitutive part of the unified territory of the Republic of Serbia".<ref name="ICTY2">[http://www.icty.org/x/cases/martic/tjug/en/070612.pdf Prosecutor v. Milan Martić Judgement]. p. 46. International Criminal Tribunal for the former Yugoslavia. Accessed 13 September 2009. (On 16 March 1991 another referendum was held which asked "Are you in favour of the SAO Krajina joining the Republic of Serbia and staying in Yugoslavia with Serbia, Montenegro and others who wish to preserve Yugoslavia?". With 99.8% voting in favour, the referendum was approved and the Krajina assembly declared that "the territory of the SAO Krajina is a constitutive part of the unified state territory of the Republic of Serbia".)</ref>

Over two hundred armed incidents involving the rebel Serbs and Croatian police were reported between August 1990 and April 1991.<ref>David C. Isby, "Yugoslavia 1991: Armed Forces in Conflict", Jane's Intelligence Review 394, 402 (September 1991)</ref> As the JNA increasingly supported the RSK and the [[Croatian Police]] proved unable to cope with the situation, the [[Croatian National Guard]] (ZNG) was formed in May 1991. The ZNG was renamed the [[Croatian Army]] (HV) in November.<ref>{{harvnb|EECIS|1999|pp=272–278}}</ref> The establishment of the [[military of Croatia]] was hampered by a [[United Nations Security Council Resolution 713|UN arms embargo]] introduced in September.<ref>{{harvnb|The Independent|10 October 1992}}</ref>

The conflict escalated by March 1991, resulting in the [[Croatian War of Independence]].<ref>{{harvnb|The New York Times|3 March 1991}}</ref> In June 1991, [[Independence of Croatia|Croatia declared its independence]] as [[Breakup of Yugoslavia|Yugoslavia disintegrated]].<ref>{{harvnb|The New York Times|26 June 1991}}</ref> A three-month moratorium on Croatia's and the RSK's declarations followed,<ref>{{harvnb|The New York Times|29 June 1991}}</ref> after which the decision came into effect on 8 October.<ref>{{harvnb|Narodne novine|8 October 1991}}</ref> The final months of 1991 saw the fiercest fighting of the war, culminating in the [[Battle of the Barracks]],<ref>{{harvnb|The New York Times|24 September 1991}}</ref> the [[Siege of Dubrovnik]],<ref>{{harvnb|Bjelajac|Žunec|2009|pp=249–250}}</ref> and the [[Battle of Vukovar]].<ref>{{harvnb|The New York Times|18 November 1991}}</ref> In November 1991, the [[Arbitration Commission of the Peace Conference on Yugoslavia]], led by [[Robert Badinter]], concluded at the request of [[Peter Carington, 6th Baron Carrington|Lord Carrington]] that the SFR Yugoslavia was in the process of dissolution, that the Serbian population in Croatia and Bosnia did not have a right to self-determination in the form of new states, and that the borders between the republics were to be recognized as international borders. In January 1992, representatives of Croatia, the JNA, and the [[United Nations]] (UN) reached an agreement to implement the [[Vance plan]] designed to stop the fighting.<ref name="NYTimes-Jan3-Ceasefire">{{harvnb|The New York Times|3 January 1992}}</ref>

Ending the series of unsuccessful ceasefires, the [[United Nations Protection Force]] (UNPROFOR) was deployed to Croatia to supervise and maintain the agreement.<ref>{{harvnb|Los Angeles Times|29 January 1992}}</ref> A stalemate developed as the conflict evolved into static trench warfare, and the JNA soon retreated from Croatia into [[Bosnia and Herzegovina]], where a new conflict was anticipated.<ref name="NYTimes-Jan3-Ceasefire" /> Serbia continued to support the RSK,<ref>{{harvnb|Thompson|2012|p=417}}</ref> but a series of HV advances restored small areas to Croatian control as the siege of [[Dubrovnik]] ended,<ref>{{harvnb|The New York Times|15 July 1992}}</ref> and [[Operation Maslenica]] resulted in minor tactical gains.<ref>{{harvnb|The New York Times|24 January 1993}}</ref> In response to the HV successes, the [[Army of the Republic of Serb Krajina]] (ARSK) intermittently attacked a number of Croat towns and villages with artillery and missiles.<ref name="MarticICTY" /><ref>{{harvnb|ECOSOC|17 November 1993|loc=Section K, point 161}}</ref><ref>{{harvnb|The New York Times|13 September 1993}}</ref>

As the JNA disengaged in Croatia, its personnel prepared to set up a new [[Bosnian Serb]] army, as Bosnian Serbs declared the Serbian Republic of Bosnia and Herzegovina on 9 January 1992, ahead of a 29 February &ndash; 1 March 1992 referendum on the independence of Bosnia and Herzegovina. The referendum was later cited as a pretext for the [[Bosnian War]].<ref>{{harvnb|Ramet|2006|p=382}}</ref> Bosnian Serbs set up barricades in the capital, [[Sarajevo]], and elsewhere on 1 March, and the next day the first fatalities of the war were recorded in Sarajevo and [[Doboj]]. In the final days of March, the Bosnian Serb army started shelling [[Bosanski Brod]],<ref>{{harvnb|Ramet|2006|p=427}}</ref> and on 4 April, Sarajevo was attacked.<ref>{{harvnb|Ramet|2006|p=428}}</ref> By the end of the year, the Bosnian Serb army—renamed the [[Army of Republika Srpska]] (VRS) after the [[Republika Srpska]] state was proclaimed—controlled about 70% of Bosnia and Herzegovina.<ref>{{harvnb|Ramet|2006|p=433}}</ref> That proportion would not change significantly over the next two years.<ref>{{harvnb|Ramet|2006|p=443}}</ref> Although the war originally pitted Bosnian Serbs against non-Serbs in the country, it evolved into a three-sided conflict by the end of the year, as the [[Croat–Bosniak War]] started.<ref>{{harvnb|Ramet|2006|p=10}}</ref> The RSK was supported to a limited extent by the Republika Srpska, which launched occasional air raids from [[Banja Luka]] and bombarded several cities in Croatia.<ref>{{harvnb|The Seattle Times|16 July 1992}}</ref><ref>{{harvnb|The New York Times|17 August 1995}}</ref>

During this period, the RSK initiated a campaign of [[ethnic cleansing]] against Croat civilians. In 1991, 84,000 Croats fled Serbian-held territory.<ref name="Blitz">{{cite book |last1=Blitz |first1=Brad K. |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=Mvjm82mAKfkC&pg=PA244 |title=War and Change in the Balkans: Nationalism, Conflict and Cooperation |date=2006 |publisher=Cambridge University Press |isbn=978-0-52167-773-8 |page=244}}</ref> Most non-Serbs were expelled by early 1993. Hundreds of Croats were murdered, and the total number of Croats and other non-Serbs who were expelled ranged from 170,000 according to the [[ICTY]]<ref>{{cite news |author=Marlise Simons |date=10 October 2001 |title=Milosevic, Indicted Again, Is Charged With Crimes in Croatia |url=https://www.nytimes.com/2001/10/10/world/milosevic-indicted-again-is-charged-with-crimes-in-croatia.html?scp=1&sq=milo%C5%A1evi%C4%87%20170000&st=cse |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130520112601/http://www.nytimes.com/2001/10/10/world/milosevic-indicted-again-is-charged-with-crimes-in-croatia.html?scp=1&sq=milo%C5%A1evi%C4%87%20170000&st=cse |archive-date=20 May 2013 |access-date=26 December 2010 |newspaper=The New York Times}}</ref> and up to a quarter of a million people according to [[Human Rights Watch]].<ref>{{cite web |date=21 October 2001 |title=Milosevic: Important New Charges on Croatia |url=https://www.hrw.org/en/news/2001/10/28/milosevic-important-new-charges-croatia |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20101225134329/http://www.hrw.org/en/news/2001/10/28/milosevic-important-new-charges-croatia |archive-date=25 December 2010 |access-date=29 October 2010 |publisher=[[Human Rights Watch]]}}</ref> By October 1993, the UNHCR estimated that there was a total of 247,000 Croatian and other non-Serbian displaced persons coming from areas under the control of RSK and 254,000 Serbian displaced persons and refugees from the rest of Croatia, an estimated 87,000 of whom were inhabitants of the United Nations Protected Areas (UNPA's).<ref name="Croatia HRP 1993">{{cite web |date=31 January 1994 |title=Croatia Human Rights Practices, 1993 |url=http://www.hri.org/docs/USSD-Rights/93/Croatia93.html |publisher=United States Department of State |access-date=16 May 2008 |archive-date=5 November 2013 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20131105051829/http://www.hri.org/docs/USSD-Rights/93/Croatia93.html |url-status=dead }} {{PD-notice}}</ref> By November 1993, fewer than 400 ethnic Croats remained in the [[United Nations]]-protected area known as Sector South,<ref>{{harvnb|Department of State|31 January 1994}}</ref> while a further 1,500 &ndash; 2,000 remained in Sector North.<ref name="UNCHR">{{harvnb|ECOSOC|17 November 1993|loc=Section J, points 147 & 150}}</ref> The UNHCR reported that in the Serb-controlled portions of the UNPA's, human rights abuses against Croats and non-Serbs were persistent. Some of the Krajina Serb "authorities" continued to be among the most egregious perpetrators of human rights abuses against the residual non-Serb population, as well as Serbs not in agreement with nationalistic policy. Human rights violations included killings, disappearances, beatings, harassment, forced resettlement, or exile, designed to ensure Serbian dominance of the areas.<ref name="Croatia HRP 1993" />

In 1991, 70,000 Serbs were displaced from Croatian territory.<ref name="Blitz" /> During this time, Serbs living in Croatian towns, especially those near the front lines, were subjected to various forms of discrimination, from being fired from jobs to having bombs planted under their cars or houses.<ref>{{harvnb|Goldstein|1999|p=233}}</ref> In 1993, the UNHCR also reported a continued series of abuse against Serbs in Croatian government-held areas, which included killings, disappearances, physical abuse, illegal detention, harassment, and destruction of property.<ref name="Croatia HRP 1993" /> Croatian forces also engaged in ethnic cleansing against Serbs in eastern and western Slavonia and parts of the Krajina region, though on a more restricted scale and Serb victims numbered less than Croat victims of Serb forces.<ref>{{cite web |last1=Bassiouni |first1=M. Cherif |last2=Manikas |first2=Peter M. |date=28 December 1994 |title=Annex IV: The policy of ethnic cleansing |url=http://www.ess.uwe.ac.uk/comexpert/ANX/IV.htm |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120504142243/http://www.ess.uwe.ac.uk/comexpert/ANX/IV.htm |archive-date=4 May 2012 |publisher=United Nations}}</ref>

==Prelude==
In November 1994, the [[Siege of Bihać (1992–95)|Siege of Bihać]], a theatre of operations in the Bosnian War, entered a critical stage as the VRS and the ARSK came close to capturing the town of Bihać from the [[Army of the Republic of Bosnia and Herzegovina]] (ARBiH). It was a strategic area and,<ref name="Halberstam 2003 284">{{harvnb|Halberstam|2003|p=284}}</ref> since June 1993, [[Bihać]] had been one of six [[United Nations Safe Areas]] established in Bosnia and Herzegovina.<ref>{{harvnb|Halberstam|2003|p=204}}</ref> The journalist Marcus Tanner cynically commented on how the Serbs from the 'UN-protected' Krajina were shelling Bihać, a '[[United Nations Safe Areas|UN safe area]]'.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Tanner |first=Marcus |date=28 April 1993 |title=Bosnia: Bihac shelling destroys UN peace-keeping role: Serbs from 'protected' Krajina step up attacks on Bosnia, writes Marcus Tanner in Zagreb |url=https://www.independent.co.uk/news/world/europe/bosnia-bihac-shelling-destroys-un-peacekeeping-role-serbs-from-protected-krajina-step-up-attacks-on-bosnia-writes-marcus-tanner-in-zagreb-1458096.html |website=The Independent}}</ref>

The [[Presidency of Bill Clinton|Clinton administration]] felt that its capture by Serb forces would intensify the war and lead to a humanitarian disaster greater than any other in the conflict to that point. Among the [[United States]], [[France]], and the [[United Kingdom]], division existed regarding how to protect the area.<ref name="Halberstam 2003 284"/><ref>{{harvnb|The Independent|27 November 1994}}</ref> The US called for [[airstrikes]] against the VRS, but the French and the British opposed them citing safety concerns and a desire to maintain the neutrality of French and British troops deployed as a part of the UNPROFOR in Bosnia and Herzegovina. In turn, the US was unwilling to commit ground troops.<ref>{{harvnb|Halberstam|2003|pp=285–286}}</ref>

On the other hand, the Europeans recognized that the US was free to propose military confrontation with the Serbs while relying on the European powers to block any such move,<ref>{{harvnb|Halberstam|2003|p=305}}</ref> since [[French President]] [[François Mitterrand]] discouraged any military intervention, greatly aiding the Serb war effort.<ref>{{harvnb|Halberstam|2003|p=304}}</ref> The French stance reversed after [[Jacques Chirac]] was elected president of France in May 1995,<ref>{{harvnb|Halberstam|2003|p=293}}</ref> pressuring the British to adopt a more aggressive approach as well.<ref>{{harvnb|Halberstam|2003|p=306}}</ref>

Denying Bihać to the Serbs was strategically important to Croatia,<ref>{{harvnb|Hodge|2006|p=104}}</ref> and [[General]] [[Janko Bobetko]], the [[General Staff of the Armed Forces of the Republic of Croatia|Chief of the Croatian General Staff]], considered the potential fall of Bihać to represent an end to Croatia's war effort.<ref name="JL-Winter">{{harvnb|Jutarnji list|9 December 2007}}</ref>

In March 1994, the [[Washington Agreement]] was signed,<ref name="JL-Winter"/> ending the Croat–Bosniak War, and providing Croatia with US military advisors from [[Military Professional Resources Inc.|Military Professional Resources Incorporated]] (MPRI).<ref name=Dunigan>{{harvnb|Dunigan|2011|pp=93–94}}</ref><ref>{{harvnb|The Guardian|8 July 2001}}</ref> The US involvement reflected a new military strategy endorsed by [[Bill Clinton]] in February 1993.<ref name="Woodward 2010 432">{{harvnb|Woodward|2010|p=432}}</ref>

As the UN arms embargo was still in place, MPRI was hired ostensibly to prepare the HV for participation in the [[NATO]] [[Partnership for Peace]] programme. MPRI trained HV officers and personnel for 14 weeks from January to April 1995. It has also been speculated in several sources,<ref name=Dunigan/> including an article in ''[[The New York Times]]'' by Leslie Wayne and in various Serbian media reports,<ref>{{harvnb|The New York Times|13 October 2002}}</ref><ref>{{harvnb|RTS|3 September 2011}}</ref> that MPRI may also have provided [[Military doctrine|doctrinal]] advice, [[scenario planning]] and US government [[satellite intelligence]] to Croatia,<ref name=Dunigan/> although MPRI,<ref>{{harvnb|Avant|2005|p=104}}</ref> American and Croatian officials denied such claims.<ref>{{harvnb|Jutarnji list|20 August 2010}}</ref><ref>{{harvnb|RFE|20 August 2010}}</ref> In November 1994, the United States unilaterally ended the arms embargo against Bosnia and Herzegovina,<ref>{{harvnb|Bono|2003|p=107}}</ref> in effect allowing the HV to supply itself as arms shipments flowed through Croatia.<ref>{{harvnb|Ramet|2006|p=439}}</ref>

[[File:Generals Cosic and Clark discuss Bihac pocket, Washington DC, 29 November 1994.jpg|left|thumb|Croatian Brigadier General [[Krešimir Ćosić (politician)|Krešimir Ćosić]] and US Army Lieutenant General [[Wesley Clark]] discussing the [[Siege of Bihać (1992–95)|Siege of Bihać]] on 29 November 1994|alt=Generals Clark and Ćosić talking at a meeting]]
The Washington Agreement also resulted in a series of meetings between Croatian and US government and military officials in [[Zagreb]] and [[Washington, D.C.]] On 29 November 1994, the Croatian representatives proposed to attack Serb-held territory from [[Livno]] in Bosnia and Herzegovina, in order to draw away part of the force besieging Bihać and to prevent the town's capture by the Serbs. As the US officials gave no response to the proposal, the Croatian General Staff ordered [[Operation Winter '94]] the same day, to be carried out by the HV and the [[Croatian Defence Council]] (HVO)—the main military force of [[Croatian Republic of Herzeg-Bosnia|Herzeg-Bosnia]]. In addition to contributing to the defence of Bihać, the attack shifted the HV's and HVO's line of contact closer to the RSK's supply routes.<ref name="JL-Winter"/>

In 1994, the United States, [[Russia]], the [[European Union]] (EU), and the UN sought to replace the Vance plan, which brought in the UNPROFOR. They formulated the [[Z-4 plan|Z-4 Plan]], giving Serb-majority areas in Croatia substantial autonomy.<ref name=Armatta201-204>{{harvnb|Armatta|2010|pp=201–204}}</ref>

After numerous and frequently uncoordinated changes to the proposed plan, including leaking of its draft elements to the press in October, the Z-4 Plan was presented on 30 January 1995. Neither Croatia nor the RSK liked the plan. Croatia was concerned that the RSK might accept it, but Tuđman realised that Milošević, who would ultimately make the decision for the RSK,<ref>{{harvnb|Ahrens|2007|pp=160–166}}</ref> would not accept the plan for fear that it would set a precedent for a political settlement in [[Kosovo]]—allowing Croatia to accept the plan with little possibility for it to be implemented.<ref name=Armatta201-204/> The RSK refused to receive, let alone accept, the plan.<ref>{{harvnb|Galbraith|2006|p=126}}</ref>

In December 1994, Croatia and the RSK made an economic agreement to restore road and rail links, water and gas supplies, and use of a part of the [[Adria oil pipeline]]. Even though some of the agreement was never implemented,<ref>{{harvnb|Bideleux|Jeffries|2006|p=205}}</ref> a section of the [[A3 (Croatia)|Zagreb&ndash;Belgrade motorway]] passing through RSK territory near [[Okučani]] and the pipeline were both opened. Following a deadly incident that occurred in late April 1995 on the recently opened motorway,<ref>{{harvnb|The New York Times|2 May 1995}}</ref> Croatia reclaimed all of the RSK's territory in western [[Slavonia]] during [[Operation Flash]],<ref name=Goldstein252>{{harvnb|Goldstein|1999|pp=252–253}}</ref> taking full control of the territory by 4 May, three days after the battle began. In response, the [[Zagreb rocket attacks|ARSK attacked Zagreb]] using [[M-87 Orkan]] missiles with [[cluster munition]]s.<ref>{{harvnb|Ramet|2006|p=456}}</ref> Subsequently, Milošević sent a senior [[Yugoslav Army (FRY)|Yugoslav Army]] officer to command the ARSK, along with arms, field officers, and thousands of Serbs born in the RSK area who the ARSK had forcibly conscripted.<ref>{{harvnb|The New York Times|15 July 1995}}</ref>

On 17 July, the ARSK and the VRS started a fresh effort to capture Bihać by expanding on gains made during [[Operation Spider]]. The move provided the HV with a chance to extend their territorial gains from Operation Winter '94 by advancing from the Livno valley. On 22 July, Tuđman and Bosnian President [[Alija Izetbegović]] signed the [[Split Agreement]] for [[Mutual Defense Treaty|mutual defence]], permitting the large-scale deployment of the HV in Bosnia and Herzegovina. The HV and HVO responded quickly through [[Operation Summer '95]] ({{langx|hr|Ljeto '95}}), capturing [[Bosansko Grahovo]] and [[Glamoč]] on 28–29 July.<ref name=Ingrao>{{harvnb|Bjelajac|Žunec|2009|p=254}}</ref> The attack drew some ARSK units away from Bihać,<ref name=Ingrao/><ref>{{harvnb|The New York Times|31 July 1995}}</ref> but not as many as expected. However, it put the HV in an excellent position,<ref>{{harvnb|CIA|2002|pp=364–366}}</ref> as it isolated Knin from the Republika Srpska, as well as [[FR Yugoslavia|Yugoslavia]].<ref>{{harvnb|Burg|Shoup|2000|p=348}}</ref>

In late July and early August, there were two more attempts at resurrecting the Z-4 Plan and the 1994 economic agreement. Talks proposed on 28 July were ignored by the RSK, and last-ditch talks were held in [[Geneva]] on 3 August. These quickly broke down as Croatia and the RSK rejected a compromise proposed by [[Thorvald Stoltenberg]], a Special Representative of the [[UN Secretary-General]], essentially calling for further negotiations at a later date. In addition, the RSK dismissed a set of Croatian demands, including to disarm, and failed to endorse the Z-4 Plan once again. The talks were used by Croatia to prepare diplomatic ground for the imminent Operation Storm,<ref>{{harvnb|Ahrens|2007|pp=171–173}}</ref> whose planning was completed during the [[Brijuni]] Islands meeting between Tuđman and military commanders on 31 July.<ref name=Pukanic>{{harvnb|Nacional|3 April 2005}}</ref>

The HV initiated large-scale [[mobilization]] in late July, soon after General [[Zvonimir Červenko]] became its new Chief of General Staff on 15 July.<ref name=BB367>{{harvnb|CIA|2002|p=367}}</ref> In 2005, the Croatian weekly magazine ''[[Nacional (weekly)|Nacional]]'' reported that the U.S. had been actively involved in the preparation, monitoring, and initiation of Operation Storm, that the green light from President Clinton was passed on by the US military attache in Zagreb, and the operations were transmitted in real time to the [[The Pentagon|Pentagon]].<ref name=Pukanic2>{{harvnb|Nacional|24 May 2005}}</ref>

==Order of battle==
[[File:Cro-occup-lines-1Aug95-Corps.svg|upright=1.35|right|thumb|alt=Map of HV and ARSK corps areas of responsibility on 4 August 1995|Initial corps areas of responsibility in ''Operation Storm'':<br />
in Croatia: {{legend inline|#fefee9|[[Croatian Army|HV]]}}, {{legend inline|#ff8080|[[Army of the Republic of Serb Krajina|ARSK]]}}<br />in Bosnia-Herzegovina:<br />{{legend inline|#ffe680|HV/[[Croatian Defence Council|HVO]]}}, {{legend inline|#e9afaf|[[Army of Republika Srpska|VRS]]/ARSK}}, {{legend inline|#b3ff80|[[Army of the Republic of Bosnia and Herzegovina|ARBiH]]/HVO}}, {{legend inline|#5aa02c|[[Autonomous Province of Western Bosnia|APWB]]}}]]
The HV operational plan was set out in four separate parts, designated Storm-1 through&nbsp;4, which were allocated to various corps based upon their individual [[Area of responsibility|areas of responsibility]] (AORs). Each plan was scheduled to take between four and five days.<ref name=BB367/> The forces that the HV allocated to attack the RSK were organised into five army corps: [[Split, Croatia|Split]], [[Gospić]], [[Karlovac]], Zagreb and [[Bjelovar]] Corps.<ref>{{harvnb|Marijan|2007|p=59}}</ref> A sixth zone was assigned to the [[Croatian special police order of battle in 1991–95|Croatian special police]] inside the Split Corps AOR,<ref name=BB369370>{{harvnb|CIA|2002|pp=369–370}}</ref> near the boundary with the Gospić Corps.<ref name=Marijan6769>{{harvnb|Marijan|2007|pp=67–69}}</ref> The HV Split Corps, located in the far south of the theatre of operations and commanded by [[Croatian military ranks|Lieutenant General]] [[Ante Gotovina]], was assigned the Storm-4 plan, which was the primary component of Operation Storm.<ref name=BB369370/> The Split Corps issued orders for the battle using the name Kozjak-95 instead, which was not an unusual practice.<ref>{{harvnb|Marijan|2007|p=67}}</ref> The 30,000-strong Split Corps was opposed by the 10,000-strong ARSK 7th North Dalmatia Corps,<ref name=BB369370/> headquartered in Knin and commanded by [[Major General]] [[Slobodan Kovačević (soldier)|Slobodan Kovačević]].<ref name=Marijan6769/> The 3,100-strong special police, deployed to the [[Velebit]] Mountain on the left flank of the Split Corps, were directly subordinated to the HV General Staff commanded by the [[Lieutenant General]] [[Mladen Markač]].<ref>{{harvnb|Marijan|2007|p=76}}</ref>

The 25,000-strong HV Gospić Corps was assigned the Storm-3 component of the operation,<ref name=BB369>{{harvnb|CIA|2002|p=369}}</ref> to the left of the special police zone. It was commanded by [[Brigadier]] [[Mirko Norac]], and opposed by the ARSK 15th Lika Corps, headquartered in [[Korenica]] and commanded by Major General [[Stevan Ševo]].<ref>{{harvnb|Marijan|2007|pp=81–82}}</ref> The Lika Corps, consisting of about 6,000 troops, was sandwiched between the HV Gospić Corps and the ARBiH in the [[Bihać pocket]] in ARSK rear, forming a wide but a very shallow area. The [[V Corps (Bosnia and Herzegovina)|ARBiH 5th Corps]] deployed about 2,000 troops in the zone. The Gospić Corps, assigned a {{convert|150|km|adj=on}} section of the front, was tasked with cutting the RSK in half and linking up with the ARBiH, while the ARBiH was tasked with pinning down ARSK forces that were in contact with the Bihać pocket.<ref name=BB369/>

The HV Karlovac Corps, commanded by Major General [[Miljenko Crnjac]], on the left flank of the Gospić Corps, covered the area extending from [[Ogulin]] to Karlovac, including Kordun,<ref name=Marijan9092>{{harvnb|Marijan|2007|pp=90–92}}</ref> and executed the Storm-2 plan. The corps was composed of 15,000 troops and was tasked with pinning down the ARSK forces in the area to protect the flanks of the Zagreb and Gospić Corps.<ref name=BB368369>{{harvnb|CIA|2002|pp=368–369}}</ref> It had a forward command post in Ogulin and was opposed by the ARSK 21st Kordun Corps headquartered at [[Petrova Gora]],<ref name=Marijan9092/> consisting of 4,000 troops in the AOR (one of its brigades was facing the Zagreb Corps).<ref name=BB368369/> Initially, the 21st Kordun Corps was commanded by Colonel Veljko Bosanac, but he was replaced by Colonel Čedo Bulat during the evening of 5 August. In addition, the bulk of the ARSK Special Units Corps was present in the area, commanded by Major General [[Milorad Stupar]].<ref name=Marijan9092/> ARSK Special Units Corps was 5,000-strong, largely facing the Bihać pocket at the onset of Operation Storm. The ARSK armour and artillery in the AOR outnumbered that of the HV.<ref name=BB368369/>

The HV Zagreb Corps, assigned the Storm-1 plan, initially commanded by Major General [[Ivan Basarac]], on the left flank of the Karlovac Corps, was deployed on three main axes of attack—towards [[Glina, Croatia|Glina]], [[Petrinja]] and [[Hrvatska Kostajnica]]. It was opposed by the ARSK 39th Banija Corps, headquartered in Glina and commanded by Major General [[Slobodan Tarbuk]].<ref>{{harvnb|Marijan|2007|pp=100–101}}</ref> The Zagreb Corps was tasked with bypassing Petrinja to neutralize ARSK artillery and missiles potentially targeting Croatian cities, making a secondary thrust from [[Sunja, Sisak-Moslavina County|Sunja]] towards Hrvatska Kostajnica. Their secondary mission was compromised when a battalion of the special police and the 81st Guards Battalion planned to spearhead the advance were deployed elsewhere forcing modifications to the plan. The Zagreb Corps was composed of 30,000 troops, while the ARSK had 9,000 facing them and about 1,000 ARBiH troops in the Bihać pocket to their rear. At the start of Operation Storm, about 3,500 ARSK troops were in contact with the ARBiH.<ref>{{harvnb|CIA|2002|p=368}}</ref> HV Bjelovar Corps, on the left flank of the Zagreb Corps, covering the area along the [[Una (Sava)|Una River]], had a forward command post in [[Novska]]. The corps was commanded by Major General [[Luka Džanko]]. Opposite the Bjelovar Corps was a part of the ARSK Banija Corps. The Bjelovar Corps was included in the attack on 2 August and were therefore not issued a separate operations plan.<ref>{{harvnb|Marijan|2007|p=115}}</ref>

The ARSK divided its forces in the area in two, subordinating the North Dalmatia and Lika Corps to the ARSK General Staff, and grouping the rest into the Kordun Operational Group commanded by [[Lieutenant Colonel General]] [[Mile Novaković]]. Territorially, the division corresponded to the North and South sectors of the UN protected areas.<ref name=BB367368>{{harvnb|CIA|2002|pp=367–368}}</ref> 

Estimates of the total number of troops deployed by the belligerents vary considerably. Croatian forces have been estimated from under 100,000 to 150,000,<ref name=Goldstein252/><ref>{{harvnb|Henriksen|2007|p=104}}</ref> but most sources put the figure at about 130,000 troops.<ref name=Thomas55>{{harvnb|Thomas|2006|p=55}}</ref><ref name=Index130>{{harvnb|Index.hr|5 August 2011}}</ref> ARSK troop strength in the Sectors North and South was estimated by the HV prior to Operation Storm at approximately 43,000.<ref>{{harvnb|Marijan|2007|pp=37–38}}</ref> More detailed HV estimates of the manpower by individual ARSK corps indicated 34,000 soldiers,<ref name=Marijan67116/> while Serb sources quote 27,000 troops.<ref>{{harvnb|Sekulić|2000|p=262}}</ref> The discrepancy is usually reflected in literature as an estimate of about 30,000 ARSK troops.<ref name=Thomas55/> The ARBiH deployed approximately 3,000 troops against the ARSK positions near Bihać.<ref name=BB368369/> In late 1994, the [[Fikret Abdić]]-led [[Autonomous Province of Western Bosnia]] (APWB)—a sliver of land northwest of Bihać between its ally RSK and the pocket—commanded 4,000&ndash;5,000 soldiers who were deployed south of [[Velika Kladuša]] against the ARBiH force.<ref>{{harvnb|Ramet|2006|p=451}}</ref>

{| class="plainrowheaders wikitable collapsible collapsed" style="cellspacing=2px; text-align:left; font-size:90%;" width=800px
|+Initial [[Croatian Army]] deployments in Operation Storm<ref name=Marijan67116>{{harvnb|Marijan|2007|pp=67–116}}</ref>
|- style="font-size:100%; text-align:right;"
! style="width:100px;" scope="col" | Corps !! style="width:300px;" scope="col" | Unit !! style="width:400px;" scope="col" | Note 
|-
| rowspan=19 style=text-align:left|[[Split, Croatia|Split]] Corps || [[4th Guards Brigade (Croatia)|4th Guards Brigade]] || rowspan=2| In the [[Bosansko Grahovo]] area
|-
| [[7th Guards Brigade (Croatia)|7th Guards Brigade]]
|-
| 81st Guards Battalion || In the [[Glamoč]] area
|-
| [[1st Croatian Guards Brigade]] || A part of the [[1st Croatian Guards Corps]]; Held in reserve in the Bosansko Grahovo area
|-
| 6th Home Guard Regiment || rowspan=3| In the [[Sinj]] area
|-
| 126th Home Guard Regiment
|-
| 144th Home Guard Regiment
|-
| 142nd Home Guard Regiment || rowspan=3| In the [[Šibenik]] area
|-
| 15th Home Guard Regiment
|-
| 113th Infantry Brigade
|-
| 2nd Battalion of the 9th Guards Brigade || rowspan=4| In the [[Zadar]] area
|-
| 112th Infantry Brigade
|-
| 7th Home Guard Regiment
|-
| 134th Home Guard Regiment
|-
| 10th Artillery-Rocket Regiment of the [[Croatian Defence Council|HVO]] || rowspan=5| Supporting the Split Corps
|-
| 14th Artillery Battalion
|-
| 20th Artillery (Howitzer) Battalion
|-
| Elements of the artillery battalion of the [[5th Guards Brigade (Croatia)|5th Guards Brigade]]
|-
| 11th Antitank Artillery-Rocket Battalion
|-
| rowspan=7 style=text-align:left|[[Gospić]] Corps || 138th Home Guard Regiment || rowspan=2| In the [[Saborsko]] area

|-
| 133rd Home Guard Regiment
|-
| [[9th Guards Brigade (Croatia)|9th Guards Brigade]] || Without its 2nd Battalion, in the Gospić area
|-
| 118th Home Guard Regiment || rowspan=2| In the Gospić area
|-
| 111th Infantry Brigade
|-
| 12th Artillery Battalion || Supporting the Gospić Corps
|-
| [[1st Guards Brigade (Croatia)|1st Guards Brigade]] || Directly subordinated to the HV General Staff; Temporarily assigned to the Gospić Corps from 4&ndash;6 August
|-
| rowspan=10 style=text-align:left|[[Karlovac]] Corps || 104th Infantry Brigade || rowspan=3| In the Karlovac area
|-
| 110th Home Guard Regiment
|-
| 137th Home Guard Regiment
|-
| 14th Home Guard Regiment || rowspan=3| In the [[Ogulin]] area
|-
| 143rd Home Guard Regiment
|-
| 99th Infantry Brigade
|-
| 1 battalion of the 148th Infantry Brigade || In reserve
|-
| 7th Antitank Artillery-Rocket Battalion || rowspan=3| Supporting the Karlovac Corps
|-
| 13th Antitank Artillery-Rocket Battalion
|-
| 33rd Engineer Brigade
|-
| rowspan=21 style=text-align:left|[[Zagreb]] Corps || 17th Home Guard Regiment || rowspan=3| In the [[Sunja, Sisak-Moslavina County|Sunja]] area
|-
| 103rd Infantry Brigade
|-
| 151st Infantry Brigade
|-
| [[2nd Guards Brigade (Croatia)|2nd Guards Brigade]] || rowspan=3| In the [[Petrinja]] area
|-
| 57th Infantry Brigade
|-
| 12th Home Guard Regiment
|-
| 20th Home Guard Regiment || In the Petrinja and [[Glina, Croatia|Glina]] areas
|-
| 153rd Infantry Brigade || In the Glina area
|-
| 202nd Artillery-Rocket Brigade || rowspan=13| Supporting the Zagreb Corps
|-
| 67th Military Police Battalion
|-
| 252nd Independent Signals Company
|-
| 502nd Mechanized NBC Warfare Company
|-
| 1 battalion of the 33rd Engineer Brigade
|-
| 31st Engineer Battalion
|-
| 36th Engineer-Pontoon Battalion
|-
| 1st Riverine Corps
|-
| 6th Artillery Battalion
|-
| 8th Howitzer Artillery Battalion (203mm)
|-
| 1 battalion of the 16th Artillery-Rocket Brigade
|-
| 5th Antitank Artillery-Rocket Battalion
|-
| 1 battalion of the 15th Antitank Artillery-Rocket Brigade
|-
| rowspan=6 style=text-align:left|Bjelovar Corps || 125th Home Guard Regiment || rowspan=5| In the [[Jasenovac, Sisak-Moslavina County|Jasenovac]] area
|-
| 52nd Home Guard Regiment
|-
| 34th Engineer Battalion
|-
| 24th Home Guard Regiment
|-
| 18th Artillery Battalion
|-
| 121st Home Guard Regiment || In the [[Okučani]] area
|}

{| class="plainrowheaders wikitable collapsible collapsed" style="cellspacing=2px; text-align:left; font-size:90%;" width=800px
|+Initial [[Army of the Republic of Serb Krajina]] deployments in Operation Storm<ref name=Marijan67116/>
|- style="font-size:100%; text-align:right;"
! style="width:100px;" scope="col" | Corps !! style="width:300px;" scope="col" | Unit !! style="width:400px;" scope="col" | Note 
|-
| rowspan=9 style=text-align:left|North Dalmatia Corps || 75th Motorized Brigade || rowspan=10| Opposite the Split Corps
|-
| 92nd Motorized Brigade
|-
| 1st Light Brigade
|-
| 4th Light Brigade
|-
| 2nd Infantry Brigade
|-
| 3rd Infantry Brigade
|-
| 7th Mixed Artillery Regiment
|-
| 7th Mixed Antitank Artillery Regiment
|-
| 7th Light Artillery-Rocket Regiment
|-
| style=text-align:left|Special Units Corps || 2nd Guards Brigade
|-
| rowspan=8 style=text-align:left|Lika Corps || 9th Motorized Brigade || rowspan=7| Opposite the Gospić Corps
|-
| 18th Infantry Brigade
|-
| 50th Infantry Brigade
|-
| 103rd Light Brigade
|-
| 37th Infantry Battalion
|-
| 15th Mixed Artillery Battalion
|-
| 15th Mixed Antitank Artillery Battalion
|-
| 70th Infantry Brigade || Opposite Gospić and Karlovac Corps
|-
| rowspan=8 style=text-align:left|Kordun Corps || 11th Infantry Brigade || rowspan=8| Opposite the Karlovac Corps
|-
| 13th Infantry Brigade
|-
| 19th Infantry Brigade
|-
| 21st Border Squadron
|-
| 21st Reconnaissance Squadron
|-
| 21st Mixed Artillery Squadron
|-
| 75th Mixed Antitank Artillery Squadron
|-
| 75th Engineer Battalion
|-
| colspan=2 style=text-align:left|Special Units Corps || Missing its 2nd Guards Brigade; Opposite the Karlovac Corps
|-
| rowspan=5 style=text-align:left|Banija Corps || 24th Infantry Brigade || rowspan=4| Opposite the Zagreb Corps
|-
| 33rd Infantry Brigade
|-
| 31st Motorized Brigade
|-
| ARSK General Staff Artillery Group
|-
| 26th Infantry Brigade || Opposite Zagreb and Bjelovar Corps
|-
| style=text-align:left|[[Army of Republika Srpska]] || 11th Brigade || In the [[Republika Srpska]], on the right flank of the RSK Banija Corps
|}

{| class="plainrowheaders wikitable collapsible collapsed" style="cellspacing=2px; text-align:left; font-size:90%;" width=800px
|+Initial [[Army of the Republic of Bosnia and Herzegovina]] deployments in Operation Storm<ref>{{harvnb|CIA|2002|pp=372–374}}</ref>
|- style="font-size:100%; text-align:right;"
! style="width:100px;" scope="col" | Corps !! style="width:300px;" scope="col" | Unit !! style="width:400px;" scope="col" | Note 
|-
| rowspan=4 style=text-align:left|[[V Corps (Bosnia and Herzegovina)|5th Corps]] || 501st Mountain Brigade || rowspan=2| Opposite the Lika Corps
|-
| 502nd Mountain Brigade
|-
| 505th Mountain Brigade || rowspan=2| Opposite the Banija Corps
|-
| 511th Mountain Brigade
|}

==Operation timeline==

===4 August 1995===
Operation Storm started at 5&nbsp;a.m. on 4 August 1995 when coordinated attacks were executed by reconnaissance and sabotage detachments in concert with [[Croatian Air Force]] (CAF) air strikes aimed at disrupting ARSK [[command, control, and communications]].<ref>{{harvnb|CIA|2002|p=370}}</ref> UN peacekeepers, known as [[United Nations Confidence Restoration Operation]] (UNCRO),<ref>{{harvnb|UNCRO}}</ref> were notified three hours in advance of the attack when Tuđman's chief of staff, [[Hrvoje Šarinić]], telephoned UNCRO commander, [[French Army]] General Bernard Janvier. In addition, each HV corps notified the UNCRO sector in its path of the attack, requesting written confirmations of receipt of the information. The UNCRO relayed the information to the RSK,<ref>{{harvnb|Marijan|2007|p=129}}</ref> confirming the warnings RSK received from the Yugoslav Army General Staff the previous day.<ref>{{harvnb|Sekulić|2000|p=173}}</ref>

====Sector South====
[[File:Martic-order1995.jpg|thumb|upright|Order of the [[Republic of Serbian Krajina|RSK]] Supreme Defence Council to evacuate civilians from the [[Knin]] area|alt=Typewritten and signed order]]
In the Split Corps AOR, at 5&nbsp;a.m. the 7th Guards Brigade advanced south from Bosansko Grahovo towards the high ground ahead of Knin after a period of artillery preparation. Moving against the ARSK 3rd [[Battlegroup (army)|Battlegroup]], consisting of elements of the North Dalmatian Corps and RSK police, the 7th Guards achieved its objectives for the day and allowed the 4th Guards Brigade to attack. The HV [[Sinj]] Operational Group (OG), on the left flank of the two brigades, joined the attack and the 126th Home Guard Regiment captured [[Uništa (Bosansko Grahovo)|Uništa]], gaining control of the area overlooking the Sinj&ndash;Knin road. The 144th Brigade and the 6th Home Guard Regiment also pushed ARSK forces back. The [[Šibenik]] OG units faced the ARSK 75th Motorized Brigade and a part of the 2nd Infantry Brigade of the ARSK North Dalmatian Corps. There, the 142nd and the 15th Home Guard Regiments made minor progress in the area between [[Krka (Croatia)|Krka]] and [[Drniš]], while the 113th Infantry Brigade made a slightly greater advance on their left flank, to [[Čista Velika]]. In the [[Zadar]] OG area, the 134th Home Guard Regiment (without its 2nd Battalion) failed to advance, while the 7th Home Guard Regiment and the 112th HV Brigade gained little ground against the ARSK 92nd Motorized and 3rd Infantry Brigades at [[Benkovac]]. On the Velebit, the 2nd Battalion of the 9th Guards Brigade, reinforced with a company from the 7th Home Guard Regiment, and the 2nd Battalion of the 134th Home Guard Regiment met stiff resistance but advanced sufficiently to secure use of the [[Obrovac, Croatia|Obrovac]]&ndash;[[Sveti Rok]] road. At 4:45&nbsp;p.m., a decision to evacuate the population in the Northern Dalmatia and Lika areas was made by RSK President [[Milan Martić]].<ref name=Marijan7072>{{harvnb|Marijan|2007|pp=70–72}}</ref><ref name=1996HRW9>{{harvnb|HRW|1996|p=9}}</ref> According to RSK Major General [[Milisav Sekulić]], Martić ordered the evacuation hoping to coax Milošević and the international community to help the RSK.<ref>{{harvnb|Sekulić|2000|p=265}}</ref> Nonetheless, the evacuation was extended the whole sectors North and South, except Kordun region.<ref>{{harvnb|Sekulić|2000|p=267}}</ref> In the evening the [[Main Staff of the Serbian Army of Krajina|ARSK Main Staff]] moved from Knin to [[Srb]],<ref name=Marijan7072/> about {{convert|35|km|abbr=off}} to the northwest.<ref>{{harvnb|CIA|2002|p=371}}</ref>

At 5&nbsp;a.m., Croatian special police advanced to the Mali Alan pass on the Velebit, encountering strong resistance from the ARSK Lika Corps' 4th Light Brigade and elements of the 9th Motorized Brigade. The pass was captured at 1&nbsp;p.m., and Sveti Rok village was captured at about 5&nbsp;p.m. The special police advanced further beyond Mali Alan, meeting more resistance at 9&nbsp;p.m. and then [[Bivouac shelter|bivouacking]] until 5&nbsp;a.m. The ARSK 9th Motorized Brigade withdrew to [[Udbina]] after being forced out of its positions on the Velebit. In the morning, the special police captured [[Lovinac]], [[Gračac]] and [[Medak, Croatia|Medak]].<ref>{{harvnb|Marijan|2007|pp=76–77}}</ref>

In the Gospić Corps AOR, the 138th Home Guard Regiment and the 1st Battalion of the 1st Guards Brigade began an eastward attack in the [[Mala Kapela]] area in the morning, meeting heavy resistance from the ARSK 70th Infantry Brigade. The rest of the 1st Guards joined in around midnight. The 133rd Home Guard Regiment attacked east of [[Otočac]], towards [[Vrhovine]], attempting to encircle the ARSK 50th Infantry Brigade and elements of the ARSK 103rd Infantry Brigade in a [[pincer movement]]. Even though the regiment advanced, it failed to achieve its objective for the day. On the regiment's right flank, the HV 128th Brigade advanced together with the 3rd Battalion of the 8th Home Guard Regiment and cut through the Vrhovine&ndash;Korenica road. The rest of the 9th Guards Brigade, the bulk of the HV 118th Home Guard Regiment and the 111th Infantry Brigade advanced east from Gospić and Lički Osik, coming up against very strong resistance from the ARSK 18th Infantry Brigade. As a result of these setbacks, the Gospić Corps ended the day short of the objectives it had been given.<ref>{{harvnb|Marijan|2007|pp=82–84}}</ref>

====Sector North====
In the Ogulin area of the HV Karlovac Corps AOR, the 99th Brigade, reinforced by the 143rd Home Guard Regiment's [[Saborsko]] Company, moved towards [[Plaški]] at 5&nbsp;a.m., but the force was stopped and turned back in disarray by 6&nbsp;p.m. The 143rd Home Guard Regiment advanced from [[Josipdol]] towards Plaški, encountering minefields and strong ARSK resistance. Its elements connected with the 14th Home Guard Regiment, advancing through [[Barilović]] towards [[Slunj]]. Near the city of Karlovac, the 137th Home Guard Regiment deployed four [[Reconnaissance|reconnaissance groups]] around midnight of 3&ndash;4 August, followed by artillery preparation and crossing of the [[Korana]] River at 5&nbsp;a.m. The advance was fiercely resisted by the ARSK 13th Infantry Brigade, but the [[bridgehead]] was stable by the end of the day. The 110th Home Guard Regiment, reinforced by a company of the 137th Home Guard Regiment, advanced east to the road leading south from Karlovac to [[Vojnić]] and Slunj, where it met heavy resistance and suffered more casualties to landmines, demoralizing the unit and preventing its further advance. In addition, the attached company of the 137th Home Guard Regiment and the 104th Brigade failed to secure the regiment's flanks. The 104th Brigade tried to cross the [[Kupa]] River at 5&nbsp;a.m., but failed and fell back to its starting position by 8&nbsp;a.m., at which time it was shifted to the bridgehead established by the 110th Home Guard Regiment. A company of the 99th Brigade was attached to the 143rd Home Guard Regiment for operations the next day, and a 250-strong battlegroup was removed from the brigade and subordinated to the Karlovac Corps directly.<ref>{{harvnb|Marijan|2007|pp=92–93}}</ref>

In the Zagreb Corps area, the HV moved across the Kupa River at two points towards Glina—in and near [[Pokupsko]], using the 20th Home Guard Regiment and the 153rd Brigade. Both crossings established bridgeheads, although the bulk of the units were forced to retreat as the ARSK counter-attacked—only a battalion of the 153rd Brigade and elements of the 20th Home Guard Regiment held their ground. The crossings prompted the ARSK General Staff to order the 2nd Armoured Brigade of the Special Units Corps to move from Slunj to the bridgeheads,<ref name=Marijan101103>{{harvnb|Marijan|2007|pp=101–103}}</ref> as the HV advance threatened a vital road in Glina.<ref name=BB368369/> The HV 2nd Guards Brigade and the 12th Home Guard Regiment were tasked with the quick capture of Petrinja from the ARSK 31st Motorized Brigade in a pincer movement.<ref name=Marijan101103/> The original plan, involving thrusts {{convert|6|to|7|km|abbr=off|spell=in}} south of Petrinja, was amended by Basarac to a direct assault on the city.<ref name=BB369370/> On the right flank, the regiment was soon stopped by minefields and forced to retreat, while the bulk of the 2nd Guards Brigade advanced until it wavered following the loss of a company commander and five soldiers. The rest of the 2nd Guards Brigade—reinforced by the 2nd Battalion, elements of the 12th Home Guard Regiment, the 5th Antitank Artillery Battalion and the 31st Engineers Battalion—formed Tactical Group&nbsp;2 (TG2) operating on the left flank of the attack. TG2 advanced from [[Mošćenica]], a short distance from Petrinja, but was stopped after the 2nd Battalion's commander and six soldiers were killed. The ARSK 31st Motorized Brigade also panicked but managed to stabilize its defences as it received reinforcements. The HV 57th Brigade advanced south of Petrinja, intent on reaching the Petrinja&ndash;Hrvatska Kostajnica road, but ran into a minefield where the brigade commander was killed, while the 101st Brigade to its rear suffered heavy artillery fire and casualties. In the Sunja area, the 17th Home Guard Regiment and a company of the 151st Brigade unsuccessfully attacked the ARSK 26th Infantry Brigade. Later that day, a separate attack by the rest of the 151st Brigade also failed. The HV 103rd Brigade advanced to the Sunja&ndash;[[Sisak]] railroad, but had to retreat under heavy fire. The Zagreb Corps failed to meet any objective of the first day. This was attributed to inadequate manpower and as a result the corps requested the mobilization of the 102nd Brigade and the 1st and 21st Home Guard Regiments. The 2nd Guards Brigade was reinforced by the 1st Battalion of the 149th Brigade previously held in reserve in [[Ivanić Grad]].<ref name=Marijan101103/>

In the Bjelovar Corps AOR, two battalions of the 125th Home Guard Regiment crossed the [[Sava]] River near [[Jasenovac, Sisak-Moslavina County|Jasenovac]], secured a bridgehead for trailing HV units and advanced towards [[Hrvatska Dubica]]. The two battalions were followed by an additional company of the same regiment, a battalion of the 52nd Home Guard Regiment, the 265th Reconnaissance Company and finally the 24th Home Guard Regiment battlegroup. A reconnaissance platoon of the 52nd Home Guard Regiment crossed the Sava River into the Republika Srpska, established a bridgehead for two infantry companies and subsequently demolished the [[Bosanska Dubica]]&ndash;[[Gradiška, Bosnia and Herzegovina|Gradiška]] road before returning to Croatian soil. The Bjelovar Corps units reached the outskirts of Hrvatska Dubica before nightfall. That night, the town of Hrvatska Dubica was abandoned by the ARSK troops and the civilian population. They fled south across the Sava River into Bosnia and Herzegovina.<ref>{{harvnb|Marijan|2007|pp=116–117}}</ref>

===5 August 1995===

====Sector South====
[[File:Croatian President Tudjman at the Knin Fortress during the Operation Storm, 6 August 1995.jpg|right|thumb|[[Franjo Tuđman|Tuđman]] and [[Gojko Šušak|Šušak]] visiting [[Knin Fortress]] on 6 August. Officers in the photo include Lieutenant General [[Ante Gotovina|Gotovina]] and [[Brigadier]]s [[Ivan Korade]] and [[Damir Krstičević]] (commanders of the 7th and 4th Guards Brigades) on Tuđman's right, and Brigadiers [[Rahim Ademi]] and [[Ante Kotromanović]] on Šušak's left.|alt=Franjo Tuđman and several Croatian Army officers at a photo op]]
The HV did not advance towards Knin during the night of 4/5 August when the ARSK General Staff ordered a battalion of the 75th Motorized Brigade to stage themselves north of Knin. The ARSK North Dalmatian Corps became increasingly uncoordinated as the HV 4th Guards Brigade advanced south towards Knin, protecting the right flank of the 7th Guards Brigade. The latter met little resistance and entered the town at about 11&nbsp;a.m. Lieutenant General [[Ivan Čermak]] was appointed commander of the newly established HV Knin Corps. Sinj OG completed its objectives, capturing [[Veliki Kozjak|Kozjak]] and [[Vrlika]], and meeting little resistance as the ARSK 1st Light Brigade disintegrated, retreating to Knin and later to Lika. By 8&nbsp;p.m., Šibenik OG units advanced to [[Poličnik]] (113th Brigade), [[Đevrske]] (15th Home Guard Regiment), and captured Drniš (142nd Home Guard Regiment), while the ARSK 75th Motorized Brigade retreated towards Srb and [[Bosanski Petrovac]] together with the 3rd Infantry and the 92nd Motorized Brigades, leaving the Zadar OG units with little opposition. The 7th Home Guard Regiment captured Benkovac, while the 112th Brigade entered [[Smilčić]] and elements of the 9th Guards Brigade reached Obrovac.<ref>{{harvnb|Marijan|2007|pp=72–73}}</ref>

The 138th Home Guard Regiment and the 1st Guards Brigade advanced to Lička Jasenica, the latter pressing their attack further towards Saborsko, with the 2nd Battalion of the [[HV 119th Brigade]] reaching the area in the evening. The HV reinforced the 133rd Home Guard Regiment with a battalion of the 150th Brigade enabling the regiment to achieve its objectives of the previous day, partially encircling the ARSK force in Vrhovine. The 154th Home Guard Regiment was mobilized and deployed to the [[Ličko Lešće]] area. The 9th Guards Brigade (without its 2nd Battalion) advanced towards Udbina Air Base, where ARSK forces started to evacuate. The 111th Brigade and the 118th Home Guard Regiment also made small advances, linking up behind ARSK lines.<ref>{{harvnb|Marijan|2007|pp=84–85}}</ref>

====Sector North====
The 143rd Home Guard Regiment advanced towards Plaški, capturing it that evening, while the 14th Home Guard Regiment captured Primišlje, {{convert|12|km|abbr=off}} northwest of Slunj. At 0:30&nbsp;a.m., the ARSK 13th Infantry Brigade and a company of the 19th Infantry Brigade counter-attacked at the Korana bridgehead, causing the bulk of the 137th Home Guard Regiment to panic and flee across the river. A single platoon of the regiment remained but the ARSK troops did not exploit the opportunity to destroy the bridgehead. In the morning, the regiment reoccupied the bridgehead, reinforced by a 350-strong battlegroup drawn from the 104th Brigade (including a tank platoon and [[multiple rocket launcher]]s), and a company of the 148th Brigade from the Karlovac Corps operational reserve. The regiment and the battlegroup managed to extend the bridgehead towards the Karlovac&ndash;Slunj road. The 110th Home Guard Regiment attacked again south of Karlovac, but was repelled by prepared ARSK defences. That night, the Karlovac Corps decided to move elements of the 110th Home Guard Regiment and the 104th Brigade to the Korana bridgehead, while the ARSK 13th Infantry Brigade retreated to the right bank of Korana in an area extending about {{convert|30|km|abbr=off}} north from Slunj.<ref>{{harvnb|Marijan|2007|pp=93–95}}</ref>

The Zagreb Corps made little or no progress on day two of the battle. Part of the 2nd Guards Brigade was ordered to drive towards Glina with the 20th Home Guards Regiment making a modest advance, while the 153rd Brigade abandoned its bridgehead. In the area of Petrinja, the HV advanced gradually only to be pushed back in some areas by an ARSK counter-attack. The results were reversed at significant cost by a renewed push by the 2nd Guards Brigade. The Zagreb Corps commander was replaced by Lieutenant General [[Petar Stipetić]] on orders from President Tuđman. The HV reassigned the 102nd Brigade to drive to Glina, and the 57th Brigade was reinforced with the 2nd Battalion of the 149th Brigade. The 145th Brigade was moved from [[Popovača]] to the Sunja area, where the 17th Home Guard Regiment and the 151st Brigade made minor advances into the ARSK-held area.<ref>{{harvnb|Marijan|2007|pp=103–105}}</ref>

In the Bjelovar Corps AOR, Hrvatska Dubica was captured by the 52nd and the 24th Home Guard Regiments advancing from the east and the 125th Home Guard Regiment approaching from the north. The 125th Home Guard Regiment garrisoned the town, while the 52nd Home Guard Regiment moved northwest towards expected Zagreb Corps positions, but the Zagreb Corps' delays prevented any link-up. The 24th Home Guard Regiment advanced about {{convert|4|km|abbr=off|spell=in}} towards Hrvatska Kostajnica when it was stopped by ARSK troops. In response, the Corps called in a battalion and a reconnaissance platoon of the 121st Home Guard Regiment from [[Nova Gradiška]] to aid the push to the town.<ref>{{harvnb|Marijan|2007|p=117}}</ref> The ARBiH [[505th Brigade|505th]] and 511th Mountain Brigades advanced north to Dvor and engaged the ARSK 33rd Infantry Brigade—the only reserve unit of the Banija Corps.<ref>{{harvnb|CIA|2002|pp=372–373}}</ref>

===6 August 1995===
[[File:Linkup of Croatian and Bosnia-Herzegovina armies during the Operation Storm, Tržačka Raštela, Bosnia and Herzegovina, 6 August 1995.jpg|right|thumb|HV Lieutenant General [[Marijan Mareković]] (left) greeting ARBiH Lieutenant General [[Atif Dudaković]] (right) in Tržačka Raštela, on 6 August, after the [[Siege of Bihać (1992–95)|siege of Bihać]] was lifted|alt=Generals Mareković and Dudaković shaking hands]]
On 6 August, the HV conducted mopping-up operations in the areas around Obrovac, Benkovac, Drniš and Vrlika, as President Tuđman visited Knin.<ref>{{harvnb|Marijan|2007|p=73}}</ref> After securing their objectives on or near Velebit, the special police was deployed on foot behind ARSK lines to hinder movement of ARSK troops there, capturing strategic intersections in the villages of Bruvno at 7&nbsp;a.m. and [[Otrić]] at 11&nbsp;a.m.<ref>{{harvnb|Marijan|2007|pp=77–78}}</ref>

At midnight, elements of the ARBiH 501st and 502nd Mountain Brigades advanced west from Bihać against a skeleton force of the ARSK Lika Corps that had been left behind since the beginning of the battle. The 501st moved about {{convert|10|km|abbr=off}} into Croatian territory, to [[Ličko Petrovo Selo]] and [[Plitvice Lakes]] by 8&nbsp;a.m. The 502nd captured an ARSK radar and communications facility on [[Plješivica]] Mountain, and proceeded towards Korenica where it was stopped by the ARSK units. The HV 1st Guards Brigade reached [[Rakovica, Croatia|Rakovica]] and linked up with the Bosnia-Herzegovina 5th Corps in the area of [[Drežnik Grad]] by 11&nbsp;a.m.<ref name=BB372>{{harvnb|CIA|2002|p=372}}</ref> It was supported by the 119th Brigade and a battalion of the 154th Home Guard Regiment deployed in the [[Tržačka Raštela]] and Ličko Petrovo Selo areas.<ref name=Marijan8687>{{harvnb|Marijan|2007|pp=86–87}}</ref> In the afternoon, a link-up ceremony was held for the media in Tržačka Raštela.<ref>{{harvnb|Marijan|2007|p=96}}</ref> The 138th Home Guard Regiment completely encircled Vrhovine, which was captured by the end of the day by the 8th and the 133rd Home Guard Regiments, reinforced with a battalion of the 150th Brigade. The HV 128th Brigade entered Korenica while the 9th Guards Brigade continued towards Udbina.<ref name=Marijan8687/>

The 143rd Home Guard Regiment advanced to [[Broćanac, Croatia|Broćanac]] where it connected with the 1st Guards Brigade. From there the regiment continued towards Slunj, accompanied by elements of the 1st Guards Brigade and the 14th Home Guard Regiment, capturing the town at 3&nbsp;p.m. The advance of the 14th Home Guard Regiment was supported by the 148th Brigade guarding its flanks. The ARSK 13th Infantry Brigade retreated from Slunj, together with the civilian population, moving north towards [[Topusko]]. An attack by the 137th Home Guard Regiment, and the elements of various units reinforcing it, extended the bridgehead and connected it with the 14th Home Guard Regiment in Veljun, {{convert|18|km|abbr=off}} north of Slunj. The rest of the 149th Brigade (without the 1st Battalion) was reassigned from the Zagreb Corps to the Karlovac Corps to reinforce the 137th Home Guard Regiment.<ref>{{harvnb|Marijan|2007|pp=95–96}}</ref> At 11&nbsp;a.m., an agreement was reached between the ARSK and civilian authorities in Glina and [[Vrginmost]], securing the evacuation of civilians from the area.<ref>{{harvnb|HRW|1996|p=17}}</ref> The ARBiH 502nd Mountain Brigade also moved north, flanking the APWB capital of Velika Kladuša from the west, and capturing the town by the end of the day.<ref name=BB373374>{{harvnb|CIA|2002|pp=373–374}}</ref>

The TG2 advanced to Petrinja at about 7&nbsp;a.m. after a heavy artillery preparation. The 12th Home Guard Regiment entered the city from the west and was subsequently assigned to garrison Petrinja and its surrounding area. After the loss of Petrinja to the HV, the bulk of the ARSK Banija Corps started to retreat towards [[Dvor, Croatia|Dvor]]. The HV 57th Brigade advanced against light resistance and took control of the Petrinja&ndash;Hrvatska Kostajnica road. During the night of 6/7 August, the 20th Home Guard Regiment, supported by Croatian police and elements of the 153rd Brigade, captured Glina despite strong resistance. The 153rd Brigade then took positions that allowed the advance to continue towards the village of [[Maja, Croatia|Maja]] in coordination with the 2nd Guards Brigade, which drove south from Petrinja towards [[Zrinska gora]] conducting mop-up operations. The 140th Home Guard Regiment flanked the 2nd Guards Brigade on the northern slope of Zrinska Gora, while the 57th Brigade captured [[Umetić]]. The 103rd and the 151st Brigades, and the 17th Home Guard Regiment, advanced towards Hrvatska Kostajnica, with the addition of a battalion of the HV 145th Brigade which would arrive that afternoon. Around noon, the 151st Brigade connected with the Bjelovar Corps units on the Sunja&ndash;Hrvatska Dubica road. They were assigned to secure roads in the area afterwards.<ref>{{harvnb|Marijan|2007|pp=105–106}}</ref>

By capturing Glina, the HV trapped the bulk of the ARSK Kordun Corps and about 35,000 evacuating civilians in the area of Topusko, prompting its commander to request UNCRO protection. The 1st Guards Brigade, approaching Topusko from Vojnić, received orders to engage the ARSK Kordun Corps, but the orders were cancelled at midnight by the chief of the HV General Staff. Instead, the Zagreb Corps was instructed to prepare a brigade-strength unit to escort unarmed persons and ARSK officers and [[non-commissioned officer]]s with [[Sidearm (weapon)|side arm]]s to Dvor and allow them to cross into Bosnia and Herzegovina. Based on information obtained from UN troops, it was believed that the ARSK forces in Banovina were about to surrender.<ref name=Marijan111>{{harvnb|Marijan|2007|p=111}}</ref>

A battalion of the 121st Home Guard Regiment entered Hrvatska Kostajnica, while the 24th Home Guard Regiment battlegroup secured the national border behind them. The 52nd Home Guard Regiment connected with the Zagreb Corps and then turned south to the town, reaching it that evening. The capture of Hrvatska Kostajnica marked the fulfilment of all of the Bjelovar Corps' objectives.<ref>{{harvnb|Marijan|2007|pp=117–118}}</ref>

===7 August 1995===
The [[1st Croatian Guards Brigade]] (''1. hrvatski gardijski zdrug'' - HGZ) arrived in the Knin area to connect with elements of the 4th, 7th and 9th Guards Brigades, tasked with a northward advance the next day. The Split Corps command moved to Knin as well.<ref name=Marijan74>{{harvnb|Marijan|2007|p=74}}</ref> The Croatian special police proceeded to Gornji Lapac and [[Donji Lapac]] arriving by 2&nbsp;p.m. and completing the boundary between the Gospić and Split Corps AORs. The Croatian special police also made contact with the 4th Guards Brigade in Otrić and the Gospić Corps units in Udbina by 3&nbsp;p.m. By 7&nbsp;p.m., a battalion of the special police reached the border near [[Kulen Vakuf]], securing the area.<ref name=Marijan78>{{harvnb|Marijan|2007|p=78}}</ref>

In the morning, the 9th Guards Brigade (without its 2nd Battalion) captured Udbina, where it connected with the 154th Home Guard Regiment, approaching from the opposite side of the [[Krbava|Krbava Polje]]<!-- [[Krbava|Krbava {{lang|hr|Polje}}]] --> ({{langx|hr|[[Polje]]|links=no}} or [[karst|karst field]]). By the end of the day, Operation Storm objectives assigned to the Gospić Corps were completed.<ref>{{harvnb|Marijan|2007|pp=87–88}}</ref>

A forward command post of the HV General Staff was moved from Ogulin to Slunj, and it assumed direct command of the 1st Guards Brigade, the 14th Home Guard Regiment and the 99th Brigade. The 14th Home Guard Regiment secured the Slunj area and deployed to the left bank of Korana to connect with the advancing Karlovac special police. Elements of the regiment and the 99th Brigade secured the national border in the area. The 1st Guards Brigade advanced towards Kordun, as the Karlovac Corps reoriented its main axis of attack. The 110th Home Guard Regiment and elements of the 104th Brigade reached a largely deserted Vojnić in early afternoon, followed by the 1st Guards Brigade, the 143rd Home Guard Brigade and the 137th Home Guard Regiment. Other HV units joined them by evening.<ref>{{harvnb|Marijan|2007|pp=96–97}}</ref>

The 2nd Guards Brigade advanced from Maja towards Dvor, but was stopped approximately {{convert|25|km|abbr=off}} short by ARSK units protecting the withdrawal of the ARSK and civilians towards the town. Elements of the brigade performed mopping-up operations in the area. The ARSK 33rd Infantry Brigade held the road bridge in Dvor that connected the ARSK and the Republika Srpska across the Una River. The brigade was overwhelmed by the ARBiH 5th Corps, and it retreated south of Una, as the ARSK 13th Infantry Brigade and the civilians from Kordun were reaching Dvor. Elements of the 17th Home Guard Regiment and the HV 145th and 151st Brigades reached Dvor via Hrvatska Kostajnica and came into contact with the ARSK 13th Infantry Brigade and elements of the ARSK 24th Infantry and 2nd Armoured Brigades, who had retreated from Glina.<ref name=BB373374/><ref>{{harvnb|Marijan|2007|pp=106–107}}</ref> As the expected surrender of the ARSK Kordun Corps did not materialize, the HV was ordered to reengage.<ref name=Marijan111/> Despite major pockets of resistance, Croatia's defence minister, [[Gojko Šušak]], declared major operations over at 6&nbsp;p.m.,<ref name=BB373374/> 84 hours after the battle had started.<ref>{{harvnb|Nova TV|5 August 2011}}</ref>

===8&ndash;14 August 1995===
On 8 August, the 4th and the 7th Guards Brigades, the 2nd Battalion of the 9th Guards Brigade and the 1st HGZ advanced north to Lička Kaldrma and the border of Bosnia and Herzegovina, eliminating the last major pocket of ARSK resistance in Donji Lapac and the Srb area by 8&nbsp;p.m.<ref name=BB374>{{harvnb|CIA|2002|p=374}}</ref> and achieving all of Split Corps' objectives for Operation Storm.<ref name=Marijan74/> After the capture of Vojnić, the bulk of the Karlovac Corps units were tasked with mopping up operations in their AOR.<ref>{{harvnb|Marijan|2007|p=97}}</ref> Elements of the 2nd Guards Brigade reached the Croatian border southwest of Dvor, where fighting for full control of the town was in progress, and connected with the ARBiH 5th Corps.<ref name=Marijan107>{{harvnb|Marijan|2007|p=107}}</ref>

As Tuđman ordered the cessation of military operations that afternoon, the ARSK Kordun Corps accepted surrender. Negotiations of the terms of surrender were held the same day at 1:20&nbsp;p.m. at the [[Ukraine|Ukrainian]] UNCRO troops command post in Glina, and the surrender document was signed at 2&nbsp;p.m. in Topusko. Croatia was represented by Lieutenant General Stipetić, while the RSK was represented by Bulat, commander of the ARSK Kordun Corps, and Interior Minister Tošo Pajić. The terms of surrender specified the handover of weapons, except officers' side arms, on the following day, and the evacuation of persons from Topusko via Glina, Sisak, and the Zagreb&ndash;Belgrade motorway to Serbia, protected by the Croatian military and civilian police.<ref>{{harvnb|Marijan|2007|pp=111–112}}</ref>

On 9 August, the special police surrendered their positions to the HV, after covering more than {{convert|150|km|abbr=off}} on foot in four days.<ref name=Marijan78/> The 1st Guards Brigade, followed by other HV units, entered Vrginmost. The 110th and the 143rd Home Guard Regiments conducted mopping up operations around Vrginmost and [[Lasinja]]. The 137th Home Guard Regiment conducted mopping up operations in the Vojnić area and the 14th Home Guard Regiment did the same in the Slunj, [[Cetingrad]], and Rakovica areas.<ref>{{harvnb|Marijan|2007|p=98}}</ref> The HV secured Dvor late in the evening, shortly after the civilians finished evacuating. Numerous HV Home Guard units were later tasked with further mopping up operations.<ref name=Marijan107/>

On 10 August, the HV 57th Brigade reached the Croatian border south of [[Gvozdansko]], while elements of the 2nd Guards Brigade reached Dvor and the 12th Home Guard Regiment captured Matijevići, just to the south of Dvor, on the Croatian border. The Zagreb Corps reported that the entire national border in its AOR was secured and all its Operation Storm objectives had been achieved. Mopping up operations in Banovina lasted until 14 August, and special police units joined the operations on the Zrinska Gora and Petrova Gora mountains.<ref>{{harvnb|Marijan|2007|pp=108–109}}</ref>

==Air force operations==
[[File:Croatian Air Force Mikoyan-Gurevich MiG-21bisD.jpg|thumb|left|Croatian [[Mikoyan-Gurevich MiG-21|MiG-21s]] carried out most of the [[Close air support|CAS missions]] during Operation Storm.|alt=MiG-21 fighter taxiing]]
On 4 August 1995, the CAF had at its disposal 17 [[Mikoyan-Gurevich MiG-21|MiG-21s]], five attack and nine transport helicopters, three transport airplanes and two reconnaissance aircraft. On that first day of the operation, thirteen MiG-21s were used to destroy or disable six targets in the Gospić and Zagreb Corps AORs, at the cost of one severely and three slightly damaged jets. The same day, three [[Mil Mi-8|Mi-8s]] were used for [[medical evacuation]].<ref name=Marijan119>{{harvnb|Marijan|2007|pp=119–121}}</ref> [[United States Navy|US Navy]] [[Northrop Grumman EA-6B Prowler|EA-6Bs]] and [[McDonnell Douglas F/A-18 Hornet|F/A-18s]] on patrol as part of [[Operation Deny Flight]] fired on ARSK [[surface-to-air missile]] (SAM) sites at Udbina and Knin as SAM radars locked onto the jets.<ref>{{harvnb|NATO|4 July 1997}}</ref> A few sources claim that they were deployed as a deterrent as the UN troops came under HV fire,<ref>{{harvnb|Mueller|2000|loc=notes 77 & 81}}</ref> and a subsequent [[United Nations Security Council|UN Security Council]] report only notes that the deployment was a result of the deterioration of the military situation and resulting low security of the peacekeepers in the area.<ref name=UN23AUG3>{{harvnb|UNSC|23 August 1995|p=3}}</ref> Also on 4 August, the RSK [[105th Aviation Brigade]] based at Udbina, deployed helicopters against the Croatian special police on Velebit Mountain and against targets in the Gospić area virtually to no effect.<ref name=Marijan119/>

On 5 August, the RSK air force began evacuating to [[Banja Luka Zalužani Airfield|Zalužani Airfield]] near Banja Luka, completing the move that day. At the same time the CAF deployed 11 MiG-21s to strike a communications facility and a storage site, as well as five other military positions throughout the RSK.  That day, the CAF also deployed a [[Mil Mi-24|Mi-24]] to attack ARSK armour units near Sisak and five Mi-8s to transport casualties, and move troops and cargo. Five CAF MiG-21s sustained light damage in the process. The next day, jets struck an ARSK command post, a bridge and at least four other targets near Karlovac and Glina. A Mi-24 was deployed to the Slunj area to attack ARSK tanks, while three Mi-8s transported wounded personnel and supplies. An additional pair of MiG-21s was deployed to patrol the airspace over Ivanić Grad and intercept two Bosnian Serb fighter jets, but they failed to do so due to fog in the area and their low level of flight.<ref name=Marijan119/> The VRS aircraft subsequently managed to strike the [[Petrokemija]] chemical plant in [[Kutina]].<ref name=UN23AUG6/>

On 7 August, two VRS air force jets attacked a village in the Nova Gradiška area, just north of the Sava River—the international border in the area.<ref>{{harvnb|Marijan|2007|p=128}}</ref> The CAF bombed an ARSK command post, a storage facility and several tanks near Bosanski Petrovac.<ref name=Marijan119/> CAF jets also [[August 1995 Bosanski Petrovac refugee column bombing|struck a column of Serb refugees]] near Bosanski Petrovac, killing nine people, including four children, while the following day, another refugee convoy near the village of [[Svodna]] was hit, bringing the civilian casualties to twelve.<ref>{{harvnb|Balkan Insight|7 August 2015}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |last1=Stojanovic |first1=Milica |title=Refugee Bombing Case Highlights Serbia and Croatia's Enduring Antagonism |url=https://balkaninsight.com/2022/06/16/refugee-bombing-case-highlights-serbia-and-croatias-enduring-antagonism/ |website=Balkan Insight |date=16 June 2022}}</ref> Croatia has denied that it targeted civilians.<ref>{{cite web | url=https://total-croatia-news.com/news/politics/plenkovic-gov-t-will-do-its-best-to-protect-indicted-air-force-pilots/ | title=Plenković: Gov't Will Do Its Best to Protect Indicted Air Force Pilots | date=11 May 2023}}</ref>  On 8 August, the CAF performed its last combat sorties in the operation, striking tanks and armoured vehicles between [[Bosanski Novi]] and Prijedor, and two of its MiG-21s were damaged.<ref name=Marijan119/> The same day, UN military observers deployed at Croatian airfields claimed that the CAF attacked military targets and civilians in the Dvor area,<ref name=UN23AUG6/> where refugee columns were mixed with ARSK transporting heavy weapons and large quantities of ammunition.<ref name=1996HRW14>{{harvnb|HRW|1996|p=14}}</ref> Overall, the CAF performed 67 [[close air support]], three [[attack helicopter]], seven reconnaissance, four [[combat air patrol]] and 111 [[transport helicopter]] sorties during Operation Storm.<ref name=Marijan119/>

==Other coordinated operations==
In order to protect areas of Croatia away from Sectors North and South, the HV conducted defensive operations while the HVO started a limited offensive north of Glamoč and [[Kupres, Federation of Bosnia and Herzegovina|Kupres]] to pin down part of the VRS forces, exploit the situation and gain positions for further advance.<ref name=Marijan124>{{harvnb|Marijan|2007|pp=124–126}}</ref> On 5 August, the HVO 2nd and 3rd Guards Brigades attacked VRS positions north of [[Tomislavgrad]], achieving small advances to secure more favourable positions for future attacks towards [[Šipovo]] and [[Jajce]], while tying down part of the VRS 2nd Krajina Corps.<ref>{{harvnb|Marijan|2007|pp=125–126}}</ref> As a consequence of the overall battlefield situation, the VRS was limited to a few counter-attacks around Bihać and Grahovo as it was short of reserves.<ref name=BB376/> The most significant counter-attack was launched by the VRS 2nd Krajina Corps on the night of 11/12 August. It broke through the 141st Brigade,<ref name=CIA641>{{harvnb|CIA|2002|loc=p. 418, n. 641}}</ref> consisting of the HV's reserve infantry, reaching the outskirts of Bosansko Grahovo, only to be beaten back by the HV,<ref>{{harvnb|CIA|2002|p=379}}</ref> using one battalion drawn from the 4th Guards and the 7th Guards Brigade each, supported by the 6th and the 126th Home Guard Regiments.<ref name=CIA641/>

===Operation Phoenix===
In eastern Slavonia, the HV [[Osijek]] Corps was tasked with preventing ARSK or Yugoslav Army forces from advancing west in the region, and counter-attacking into the [[SAO Eastern Slavonia, Baranja and Western Syrmia|ARSK-held area around Vukovar]]. The Osijek Corps mission was codenamed Operation Phoenix ({{langx|hr|Operacija Fenix|links=no}}). The Corps commanded the [[3rd Guards Brigade (Croatia)|3rd Guards]] and [[5th Guards Brigade (Croatia)|5th Guards]] Brigades, as well as six other HV brigades and seven Home Guard regiments. Additional reinforcements were provided in a form of specialized corps-level units otherwise directly subordinated to the HV General Staff, including a part of the Mi-24 gunship squadron. Even though artillery rounds and [[small arms]] fire were traded between the HV and the ARSK 11th Slavonia-Baranja Corps in the region, no major attack occurred.<ref name=Marijan124/> The most significant coordinated ARSK effort occurred on 5 August, when the exchange was compounded by three RSK air raids and an infantry and tank assault targeting [[Nuštar]], northeast of [[Vinkovci]].<ref>{{harvnb|Marijan|2007|p=127}}</ref> Operation Storm led the Yugoslav Army to mobilize and deploy considerable artillery, tanks and infantry to the border area near eastern Slavonia, but it took no part in the battle.<ref name=BB376>{{harvnb|CIA|2002|p=376}}</ref>

===Operation Maestral===
{{Distinguish|Operation Mistral 2}}
In the south of Croatia, the HV deployed to protect the Dubrovnik area against the VRS Herzegovina Corps and the Yugoslav Army situated in and around [[Trebinje]] and the [[Bay of Kotor]]. The plan, codenamed Operation Maestral, entailed deployment of the 114th, 115th and 163rd Brigades, the 116th and 156th Home Guard Regiments, the 1st Home Guard Battalion (Dubrovnik), the 16th Artillery Battalion, the 39th Engineers Battalion and a mobile [[coastal artillery]] battery. The area was reinforced on 8 August with the 144th Brigade as the unit completed its objectives in Operation Storm and moved to Dubrovnik. The CAF committed two MiG-21s and two Mi-24s based in Split to Operation Maestral. The [[Croatian Navy]] supported the operation deploying the [[Korčula]], [[Brač]] and [[Hvar]] [[Marine (military)|Marine]] Detachments, as well as [[missile boat]]s, [[Minesweeper (ship)|minesweepers]], [[anti-submarine warfare]] ships and coastal artillery. In the period, the VRS attacked the Dubrovnik area intermittently using artillery only.<ref>{{harvnb|Marijan|2007|p=125}}</ref>

==Assessment of the battle==
{{Location map+| Croatia | width=300| float=right
| caption={{legend|#ff8080|RSK areas captured by Croatia in Operation Storm}} {{legend|#d080ff|Areas remaining under RSK control after Operation Storm}}
| overlay_image =Cro-occup-lines-1Aug95.svg
| places =
{{Location map~|Croatia| label=[[Zagreb]] | lat=45.815879 | long=15.978241 | label_size=75 | marksize=6| position=top}}
{{Location map~|Croatia| label=[[Osijek]] | lat=45.560218 | long=18.677444 | label_size=75 | marksize=6| position=left}}
{{Location map~ | Croatia | label=[[Vinkovci]] | lat=45.291111 | long=18.801111 | label_size=75 | marksize=6 | position=left}}
{{Location map~|Croatia| label=[[Vukovar]] | lat=45.349733 | long=19.001541 | label_size=75 | marksize=6| mark= Blue pog.svg | position=right}}
{{Location map~|Croatia| label=[[Beli Manastir|Beli&nbsp;Manastir]] | lat = 45.77 | long = 18.6 | label_size = 75 | marksize = 6 | mark = Blue pog.svg | position = top}}
{{Location map~|Croatia| label=[[Sinj]] | lat=43.7 | long=16.64 | label_size=75 | marksize=6| position=right}}
{{Location map~|Croatia| label=[[Karlovac]] | lat=45.49 | long=15.55 | label_size=75 | marksize=6| position=top}}
{{Location map~|Croatia| label=[[Ogulin]] | lat=45.26 | long=15.22 | label_size=75 | marksize=6| position=left}}
{{Location map~|Croatia| label=[[Split (city)|Split]] | lat=43.5 | long=16.43 | label_size=75 | marksize=6| position=bottom}}
{{Location map~|Croatia| label=[[Šibenik]] | lat=43.73 | long=15.9 | label_size=75 | marksize=6| position=bottom}}
{{Location map~|Croatia| label=[[Zadar]] | lat=44.12 | long=15.23 | label_size=75 | marksize=6| position=left}}
{{Location map~|Croatia| label=[[Sisak]] | lat=45.48 | long=16.37 | label_size=75 | marksize=6| position=top}}
{{Location map~|Croatia| label=[[Slunj]] | lat=45.11 | long=15.58 | label_size=75 | marksize=6| position=bottom}}
{{Location map~|Croatia| label=[[Gospić]] | lat=44.54 | long=15.37 | label_size=75 | marksize=6| position=left}}
{{Location map~|Croatia| label=[[Knin]] | lat=44.04 | long=16.19 | label_size=75 | marksize=6| position=right}}
{{Location map~|Croatia| label=[[Glina, Croatia|Glina]] | lat=45.33 | long=16.08 | label_size=75 | marksize=6| position=right}}
{{Location map~|Croatia| label=[[Dvor, Croatia|Dvor]] | lat=45.06 | long=16.36 | label_size=75 | marksize=6| position=right}}
{{Location map~|Croatia| label=[[Udbina]] | lat=44.53 | long=15.76 | label_size=75 | marksize=6| position=right}}
{{Location map~|Croatia| label=[[Bihać]] | lat=44.81 | long=15.87 | label_size=75 | marksize=6| mark= Lightgreen pog.svg | position=right}}
{{Location map~|Croatia| label=[[Banja Luka]] | lat=44.76 | long=17.18 | label_size=75 | marksize=6| mark= Blue pog.svg | position=bottom}}
{{Location map~|Croatia| label=Croatian controlled | lat=43.2 | long=13.39 | label_size=75 | marksize=6| position=right}}
{{Location map~|Croatia| label=Serb controlled | lat=42.8 | long=13.39 | label_size=75 | marksize=6| mark= Blue pog.svg | position=right}}
{{Location map~|Croatia| label=Bosniak controlled | lat=42.4 | long=13.392334 | label_size=75 | marksize=6| mark= Lightgreen pog.svg | position=right}}
}}
Operation Storm became the largest European land battle since the Second World War,<ref>{{harvnb|Riley|2010|p=216}}</ref> encompassing a {{convert|630|km|adj=on}} frontline.<ref name=Goldstein252/> It was a [[decisive victory]] for Croatia,<ref>{{harvnb|Newark|2005|p=195}}</ref><ref>{{harvnb|Riley|2010|pp=213–218}}</ref><ref>{{harvnb|Mulaj|2008|p=55}}</ref><ref>{{harvnb|Wrage|Cooper|2019}}</ref> restoring its control over {{convert|10400|km2|abbr=off}} of territory, representing 18.4% of the country.<ref name=Marijan137>{{harvnb|Marijan|2007|p=137}}</ref> Losses sustained by the HV and the special police are most often cited as 174 killed and 1,430 wounded,<ref>{{harvnb|Nation|2003|p=190}}</ref> but a government report prepared weeks after the battle specified 211 killed or missing, 1,100 wounded and three captured soldiers. By 21 August, Croatian authorities recovered and buried 560 ARSK servicemen killed in the battle. The HV captured 4,000 [[prisoners of war]],<ref>{{harvnb|Sadkovich|1998|p=222}}</ref> 54 armoured and 497 other vehicles, six aircraft, hundreds of artillery pieces and over 4,000 infantry weapons.<ref name=Marijan137/> Four UN peacekeepers were killed—three as a result of HV actions and one as a result of ARSK activities—and 16 injured. The HV destroyed 98 UN observation posts.<ref>{{harvnb|UNSC|23 August 1995|p=2}}</ref>

The HV's success was a result of a series of improvements to the HV itself and crucial breakthroughs made in the ARSK positions that were subsequently exploited by the HV and the ARBiH. The attack was not immediately successful everywhere, but the seizing of key positions led to the collapse of the ARSK command structure and overall defensive capability.<ref name=BB374/> The HV's capture of Bosansko Grahovo just before Operation Storm and the special police's advance to Gračac made Knin nearly impossible to defend.<ref>{{harvnb|CIA|2002|pp=374–375}}</ref> In Lika, two Guards brigades rapidly cut the ARSK-held area lacking tactical depth or mobile reserve forces, isolating pockets of resistance and placing the 1st Guards Brigade in a position that allowed it to move north into the Karlovac Corps AOR, pushing ARSK forces towards Banovina. The defeat of the ARSK at Glina and Petrinja, after heavy fighting, also defeated the ARSK Banija Corps, as its reserve became immobilized by the ARBiH. The ARSK force was capable of containing or substantially holding assaults by regular HV brigades and the Home Guard, but attacks by the Guards brigades and the special police proved to be decisive.<ref name=BB375>{{harvnb|CIA|2002|p=375}}</ref> Colonel [[Andrew Leslie (general)|Andrew Leslie]], commanding the UNCRO in the Knin area,<ref>{{harvnb|The New York Times|4 August 1995}}</ref> assessed Operation Storm as a textbook operation that would have "scored an [[A+ (grade)|A-plus]]" by NATO standards.<ref name=Dunigan94>{{harvnb|Dunigan|2011|p=94}}</ref>

Even if the ARBiH had not provided aid, the HV would almost certainly have defeated the Banija Corps on its own, albeit at greater cost. The lack of reserves was the ARSK's key weakness that was exploited by the HV and the ARBiH since the ARSK's static defence could not cope with fast-paced attacks. The ARSK military was unable to check outflanking manoeuvres and their Special Units Corps failed as a mobile reserve, holding back the HV's 1st Guards Brigade south of Slunj for less than a single day.<ref name=BB375/> The ARSK traditionally counted on the VRS and the Yugoslav military as its strategic reserve, but the situation in Bosnia and Herzegovina immobilized the VRS reserves and Yugoslavia did not intervene militarily as Milošević did not order it to do so. Even if he had wished to intervene, the speed of the battle would have allowed a very limited time for Yugoslavia to deploy appropriate reinforcements to support the ARSK.<ref name=BB376/>

==Refugee crisis==
[[File:Serb refugees leaving Croatia.jpg|thumb|Serb refugees fleeing from Croatia|alt=A long refugee column on a road]]
The evacuation and following mass-exodus of the Serbs from the RSK led to a significant humanitarian crisis. In August 1995, the UN estimated that only 3,500 Serbs remained in Kordun and Banovina (former Sector North) and 2,000 remained in Lika and Northern Dalmatia (former Sector South), while more than 150,000 had fled to Yugoslavia, and between 10,000 and 15,000 had arrived in the Banja Luka area.<ref name=UN23AUG3/> The number of Serb refugees was reported to be as many as 200,000 by the international media<ref>{{harvnb|BBC News|5 August 2005}}</ref> and international organizations.<ref>{{harvnb|UNHCR|20 June 2001}}</ref> Croatian President Franjo Tudjman celebrated the fleeing.<ref name="adamjones" /> Also, 21,000 [[Bosniak]] refugees from the former APWB fled to Croatia.<ref name=UN23AUG3/><ref>{{harvnb|Narodne novine|7 July 1998}}</ref> The fleeing Croatian Serbs constituted one of the largest refugee populations in Europe at the time. According to [[Adam Jones (Canadian scholar)|Adam Jones]] their situation did not generate significant international outrage, largely due to a collective blame placed on Serbs for the [[Bosnian genocide]].<ref name=adamjones/>

While approximately 35,000 Serb refugees, trapped with the surrendered ARSK Kordun Corps, were evacuated to Yugoslavia via Sisak and the Zagreb&ndash;Belgrade motorway,<ref name=Marijan111/> the bulk of the refugees followed a route through the Republika Srpska, arriving there via Dvor in Banovina or via Srb in Lika—two corridors to Serb-held territory in Bosnia and Herzegovina left as the HV advanced.<ref name=1996HRW9/> The two points of retreat were created as a consequence of the delay of a northward advance of the HV Split Corps after the capture of Knin, and the decision not to use the entire HV 2nd Guards Brigade to spearhead the southward advance from Petrinja.<ref name=Marijan134>{{harvnb|Marijan|2007|p=134}}</ref> The retreating ARSK, transporting large quantities of weaponry, ammunition, artillery and tanks, often intermingled with evacuating or fleeing civilians, had few roads to use.<ref name=1996HRW14/> The escaping columns were reportedly intermittently attacked by CAF jets,<ref name=1996HRW13>{{harvnb|HRW|1996|p=13}}</ref> and the HV, trading fire with the ARSK located close to the civilian columns.<ref>{{harvnb|HRW|1996|p=10}}</ref> The refugees were also targeted by ARBiH troops,<ref>{{harvnb|Vreme|10 August 2006}}</ref> as well as by VRS jets, and sometimes were run over by the ARSK Special Units Corps' retreating tanks.<ref>{{harvnb|Dakić|2001|p=62}}</ref><ref>{{harvnb|24sata|13 February 2009}}</ref> On 9 August, a refugee convoy evacuating from the former Sector North under the terms of the ARSK Kordun Corps' surrender agreement was attacked by Croatian civilians in Sisak. The attack caused one civilian death, many injuries and damage to a large number of vehicles. Croatian police intervened in the incident after UN civilian police monitors pressured them to do so.<ref name=UN23AUG6>{{harvnb|UNSC|23 August 1995|p=6}}</ref> The next day, US ambassador to Croatia [[Peter Galbraith]] joined the column to protect them,<ref>{{harvnb|The New York Times|13 August 1995}}</ref> and the Croatian police presence along the planned route increased.<ref name=1996HRW13/> The refugees moving through the Republika Srpska were extorted at checkpoints and forced to pay extra for fuel and other services by local strongmen.<ref>{{harvnb|The Independent|9 August 1995 (b)}}</ref>

[[File:Oluja traktor.jpg|thumb|left|An elderly Serb refugee in a tractor-trailer, after crossing the Yugoslav border|alt=An elderly woman sitting in the back of a utility trailer]]
Aiming to reduce evidence of political failure, Yugoslav authorities sought to disperse the refugees in various parts of Serbia and prevent their concentration in the capital, Belgrade.<ref>{{harvnb|Thomas|1999|p=239}}</ref> The government encouraged the refugees to settle in predominantly [[Hungarians in Vojvodina|Hungarian]] areas of [[Vojvodina]], and in Kosovo, which was largely populated by [[Albanians in Kosovo|Albanians]], leading to increased instability in those regions.<ref>{{harvnb|Goldman|1997|p=372}}</ref><ref name=vanSelm45/> Even though 20,000 were planned to be settled in Kosovo, only 4,000 moved to the region.<ref name=vanSelm45>{{harvnb|van Selm|2000|pp=4–5}}</ref> After 12 August, the Serbian authorities started to deport some of the refugees who were of military age, declaring them illegal immigrants.<ref name=1996HRW40>{{harvnb|HRW|1996|p=40}}</ref> They were turned over to the VRS or the ARSK in eastern Croatia for conscription.<ref>{{harvnb|Markotich|1996|p=125}}</ref> Some of the conscripts were publicly humiliated and beaten for abandoning the RSK.<ref name=1996HRW40/> In some areas, ethnic [[Croats of Vojvodina]] were evicted from their homes by the refugees themselves to claim new accommodations.<ref>{{harvnb|The Guardian|14 June 1999}}</ref> Similarly, the refugees moving through Banja Luka forced Croats and Bosniaks out of their homes.<ref>{{harvnb|The Baltimore Sun|13 August 1995}}</ref>

===Return of the refugees===
At the beginning of the Croatian War of Independence, in 1991&ndash;1992, a non-Serb population of more than 220,000 was forcibly removed from Serb-held territories in Croatia, as the RSK was established.<ref name=Biondich>{{harvnb|Biondich|2004|p=438}}</ref> In the wake of Operation Storm, a part of those refugees, as well as Croat refugees from Bosnia and Herzegovina, settled in a substantial number of housing units in the area formerly held by the ARSK, presenting an obstacle to the return of Serb refugees.<ref name=Grandits>{{harvnb|Leutloff-Grandits|2006|pp=3–4}}</ref> In September 2010, out of 300,000&ndash;350,000 Serbs who fled from Croatia during the entire war,<ref name=HRW187>{{harvnb|HRW 18-7|2006|p=1}}</ref> 132,707 were registered as having returned,<ref name=State2010>{{harvnb|Department of State|8 April 2011}}</ref> but only 60&ndash;65% of those were believed to reside permanently in the country. However, only 20,000&ndash;25,000 more were interested in returning to Croatia.<ref name=HRW187/> In 2010, approximately 60,000 Serb refugees from Croatia remained in Serbia.<ref>{{harvnb|Večernji list|19 July 2010}}</ref>

The ICTY stated that Croatia adopting discriminatory measures after the departures of Serb civilians from the Krajina does not demonstrate that these departures were forced.<ref name="harvnb|ICTY|November 2012|p=33">{{harvnb|ICTY|November 2012|p=33}}</ref> [[Human Rights Watch]] reported in 1999 that Serbs did not enjoy their civil rights as Croatian citizens, as a result of discriminatory laws and practices, and that they were frequently unable to return to and live freely in Croatia.<ref>{{harvnb|HRW|March 1999}}</ref> The return of refugees has been hampered by several obstacles. These include property ownership and accommodation, as Croat refugees settled in vacated homes,<ref name=Grandits/> and Croatian war-time legislation that stripped the refugees once living in government-owned housing of their tenancy rights. The legislation was abolished following the war,<ref name=HRW99>{{harvnb|HRW|1 January 1999}}</ref> and alternative accommodation is offered to returnees.<ref>{{harvnb|HRW 18-7|2006|pp=4–8}}</ref> 6,538 housing units were allocated by November 2010. Another obstacle is the difficulty for refugees to obtain residency status or Croatian citizenship. Applicable legislation has been relaxed since, and by November 2010, Croatia allowed the validation of identity documents issued by the RSK.<ref name=State2010/> Even though Croatia declared a general amnesty, refugees fear legal prosecution,<ref name=HRW99/> as the amnesty does not pertain to war crimes.<ref>{{harvnb|Narodne novine|27 September 1996}}</ref>

In 2015 and 2017 report, [[Amnesty International]] expressed concern about persisting obstacles for Serbs to regain their property.<ref name="ReferenceC">{{harvnb|Amnesty|1 January 2017|pp=131–133}}</ref> They reported that Croatian Serbs continued to face discrimination in public sector employment and the restitution of tenancy rights to social housing vacated during the war. They also pointed to hate speech, "[[Persecution of Serbs in the Independent State of Croatia|evoking fascist ideology]]" and the right to [[Anti-Cyrillic protests in Croatia|use minority languages and script]] continued to be politicized and unimplemented in some towns.<ref name="ReferenceC"/>

==War crimes==
{{Main|Trial of Gotovina et al|List of massacres in the Croatian War of Independence}}

[[File:Živaja 2.jpg|thumb|Destroyed homes in the village of [[Živaja]]]]
The [[International Criminal Tribunal for the former Yugoslavia]] (ICTY), set up in 1993 based on the [[United Nations Security Council Resolution 827|UN Security Council Resolution 827]],<ref>{{harvnb|Schabas|2006|pp=3–4}}</ref> indicted Gotovina, Čermak and Markač for war crimes, specifically for their roles in Operation Storm, citing their participation in a [[joint criminal enterprise]] aimed at the permanent removal of Serbs from the ARSK-held part of Croatia. The ICTY charges specified that other participants in the joint criminal enterprise were Tuđman, Šušak, and Bobetko and Červenko,<ref>{{harvnb|ICTY|17 May 2007}}</ref> however all except Bobetko were dead before the first relevant ICTY indictment was issued in 2001.<ref>{{harvnb|ICTY|21 May 2001}}</ref> Bobetko was indicted by the ICTY, but died a year later, before he could be extradited for trial at the ICTY.<ref>{{harvnb|The New York Times|30 April 2003}}</ref> The [[Trial of Gotovina et al|trial of Gotovina ''et al'']] began in 2008,<ref>{{harvnb|The New York Times|12 March 2008}}</ref> leading to the convictions of Gotovina and Markač and the acquittal of Čermak three years later.<ref>{{harvnb|ICTY|15 April 2011 (a)}}</ref> Gotovina and Markač were acquitted on appeal in November 2012.<ref>{{harvnb|ICTY|16 November 2012}}</ref> The ICTY concluded that Operation Storm was not aimed at ethnic persecution, as civilians had not been deliberately targeted. The Appeals Chamber stated that Croatian Army and Special Police committed crimes after the artillery assault, but the state and military leadership had no role in planning and creation of crimes. The ICTY concluded that Croatia did not have the specific intent of displacing the country's Serb minority.<ref>{{harvnb|ICTY|November 2012|pp=30–34}}</ref> Furthermore, they did not find that Gotovina and Markač played a role in adopting discriminatory efforts that prevent the return of Serb civilians.<ref name="harvnb|ICTY|November 2012|p=33"/> Two judges in the panel of five dissented from this verdict.<ref>{{harvnb|The Guardian|16 November 2012}}</ref> The case raised significant issues for [[law of war]] and it has been described as a precedent.{{sfn|Sadat|2018|p=403}}{{sfn|Huffman|2012|p=1}}{{sfn|Decoeur|2012}}{{sfn|Borda|2013|pp=65–82}}{{sfn|The Direct and Indirect Approaches to Precedent in International Criminal Courts and Tribunals|2014}}{{sfn|Acquittal of Gotovina and Haradinaj|2014}}

Views on whether Operation Storm itself as a whole was a war crime remain mixed. [[European Union|EU]] envoy Bildt, one of the few critics of the operation, accused Croatia of the most efficient ethnic cleansing carried out in the [[Yugoslav Wars]]. Croatia denied this claiming it had "urged Serbs to stay", however soldiers also engaged in shelling of Serb inhabited areas, killing of civilians and allowed Croats to engage in the burning and plundering of Serb homes, according to a UN report.<ref>{{harvnb|Pearl|Cooper|2002|p=224}}</ref> His view is supported by a number of Western analysts, such as Professor Marie-Janine Calic,<ref>{{harvnb|Calic|2009|p=129}}</ref> Miloševic biographer [[Adam LeBor]],<ref>{{harvnb|LeBor|2002|p=229}}</ref> and Professor [[Paul Mojzes]],<ref>{{harvnb|Mojzes|2011|p=156}}</ref> while historians Gerard Toal and Carl T. Dahlman distinguish the Operation from "the practices of ethnic cleansing" that occurred during the offensive.<ref>{{harvnb|Toal|Dahlman|2011|p=133}}</ref> Historian [[Marko Attila Hoare]] disagrees that the operation was an act of ethnic cleansing, and points out that the Krajina Serb leadership evacuated the civilian population as a response to the Croatian offensive; whatever their intentions, the Croatians never had the chance to organise their removal.<ref>{{cite book|last = Hoare|first = Marko Attila|contribution = The War of Yugoslav Succession|editor-last=Ramet|editor-first=Sabrina P.|title=Central and Southeast European Politics Since 1989|pages=111–136|year=2010|publisher=Cambridge University Press|location=Cambridge|isbn=978-1-139-48750-4}}</ref> The claims of ethnic cleansing were rejected by US diplomat Peter Galbraith.<ref>{{harvnb|B92|19 April 2011}}</ref> In the Gotovina Defence Final Trial Brief, Gotovina's lawyers [[Luka Misetic]], Greg Kehoe and [[Payam Akhavan]] rejected the accusation of mass expulsion of Serbian population.<ref>[[#Trial Brief|Gotovina Defence Final Trial Brief, 27 July 2010]], pp. 96–99</ref> They referred to the ICTY testimony of RSK Commander [[Mile Mrkšić]], who stated that on 4 August 1995, sometime after 16:00 hrs, it was Milan Martić and his staff who in fact made a decision to evacuate the Serb population from Krajina to [[Srb]], a village near the Bosnian border.<ref name=":1">[[#Transcript Mrksic|ICTY Transcript, 19 June 2009]], p. 18934. {{quote|The president of the republic said that he had consultations with him and that they agreed, that he had proposed—that he had put forward a proposal, and this was the opinion of the staff, that people should not be left to their own devices and at the mercy of whoever, that they should be removed from Krajina to Srb.}}</ref> Mojzes also notes that Serbs were ordered by their command to leave, at which a mass exodus took place from the entire Krajina region on "short notice".<ref>{{harvnb|Mojzes|2011|p=156}}</ref> ICTY findings also stated evidence indicating that General Gotovina "adopted numerous measures" to prevent and curb crimes and general disorder following the artillery attacks, including crimes against Serb civilians.<ref name="harvnb|ICTY|November 2012|p=33">{{harvnb|ICTY|November 2012|p=33}}</ref> In an interview in 2025, [[Savo Štrbac]], the president of the Documentation-Information Centre "Veritas", stated that the fleeing of Serbs was "self-initiated" because of fear of "the army, about which they heard only the worst from its activities in World War II to the actions that preceded Storm", which "were carried out according to the [[scorched earth]] system."<ref>{{cite news |last1=Karović |first1=Boban |title=Savo Štrbac: Da je Hag sudio kako treba, hrvatske proslave „Oluje“ bile bi drugačije |url=https://www.nin.rs/politika/vesti/85376/savo-strbac-da-je-hag-sudio-kako-treba-hrvatske-proslave-oluje-bile-bi-drugacije |work=NIN |date=6 August 2025}}</ref>

In February 2015, at the conclusion of the [[Croatia–Serbia genocide case]], the [[International Court of Justice]] (ICJ) dismissed a Serbian lawsuit which alleged that Operation Storm constituted genocide,<ref name="ReferenceA">{{harvnb|BBC News|3 February 2015}}</ref> ruling that Croatia did not have the specific intent to exterminate the country's Serb minority, though it reaffirmed that serious crimes against Serb civilians had taken place.<ref name="ReferenceA"/><ref>{{harvnb|ICJ|3 February 2015|pp=4, 141, 142}}</ref> Serbia’s counterclaim was rejected unanimously, implying that even Serbia’s delegated judge had ruled against.<ref>{{Cite web |date=2015-02-03 |title=UN court dismisses Croatia, Serbia genocide claims |url=https://www.france24.com/en/20150203-united-nations-court-rules-serbia-croatia-did-not-commit-genocide-balkan-wars |access-date=2025-03-29 |website=France 24 |language=en}}</ref> The court also found that the HV left accessible escape routes for civilians.<ref>{{harvnb|ICJ|3 February 2015|pp=131, 139}}</ref> They also found that, at most, the leaders of Croatia envisaged that the military offensive would have the effect of causing the flight of the great majority of the Serb population, that they were satisfied with that consequence and they wished to encourage the departure of the Serb civilians, but do not establish the existence of the specific intent which characterizes genocide.<ref>{{harvnb|ICJ|3 February 2015|pp=140–141}}</ref> According to the judgement, Serb civilians fleeing their homes, as well as those remaining in UN protected areas, were subject to various forms of harassment by both the HV and Croatian civilians.<ref name="ReferenceB">{{harvnb|ICJ|3 February 2015|pp=4, 132, 133}}</ref> On 8 August, a refugee column was shelled.<ref name="ReferenceB"/>

In 2010, ethnic Serbians filed a class action in the federal court in [[Chicago]] on behalf of all Serbs residing in the Krajina region of Croatia in 1995. The American military consulting company [[Military Professional Resources Inc.|MPRI]] was sued on the grounds of complicity in the crimes in Operation Storm, demanding compensation in the amount of 10.4 billion dollars.<ref>{{Cite web |date=2010-08-19 |title=MPRI Couldn't Read Minds: Let's Sue Them |url=https://www.huffpost.com/entry/mpri-couldnt-read-minds-l_b_688000 |access-date=2025-04-10 |website=HuffPost |language=en}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |title=Krajišnici vs. MPRI |url=https://www.portalnovosti.com/krajisnici-vs-mpri |access-date=2025-04-10 |website=Portal Novosti}}</ref> U.S. District Judge John Lee said despite the "tragic and horrific" allegations, he lacked jurisdiction to hear plaintiffs' claims.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Serbians Can't Pursue Genocide Claim in U.S. |url=https://www.courthousenews.com/serbians-cant-pursue-genocide-claim-in-u-s/ |access-date=2025-04-10 |website=www.courthousenews.com |language=en-US}}</ref>
[[File:Sunja (Croatia).JPG|thumb|left|A Serb home in [[Sunja, Sisak-Moslavina County|Sunja]] that was destroyed during Operation Storm]]

The number of civilian casualties in Operation Storm is disputed. The State Attorney's Office of the Republic of Croatia claims that 214 civilians were killed—156 in 24 instances of war crimes and another 47 as victims of murder—during the battle and in its immediate aftermath. The [[Croatian Helsinki Committee]] disputes the claim and reports that 677 civilians were killed after Operation Storm, mainly old people who remained, while an additional 837 Serb civilians are listed as missing.<ref>{{harvnb|Deutsche Welle|4 August 2011}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |title=O zločinima u Oluji se šuti. "Ubio brata i sestru, majku s kravama zapalio u štali" |url=https://www.index.hr/clanak.aspx?id=2385154 |access-date=2022-10-01 |website=www.index.hr |language=hr}}</ref> When submitted as evidence, their report was rejected by the ICTY due to unsourced statements and double entries contained within.<ref>{{harvnb|ICTY|15 April 2011 (b)|p=30}}</ref> Other sources indicate 181 more victims were killed by Croatian forces and buried in a mass grave in Mrkonjić Grad, following a continuation of the Operation Storm offensive into Bosnia.<ref>{{Cite web |title=U Mrkonjić Gradu traže istinu o ubijenima u ratu |url=https://balkans.aljazeera.net/news/balkan/2016/11/11/u-mrkonjic-gradu-traze-istinu-o-ubijenima-u-ratu |access-date=2022-10-01 |website=balkans.aljazeera.net |language=bs}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |date=2016-11-13 |title=Jutarnji list - KRONOLOGIJA SLUČAJA MRKONJIĆ GRAD Što se doista dogodilo 1995. i 1996., tko je sudjelovao u borbama, čija su imena završila u kaznenim prijavama... |url=https://www.jutarnji.hr/vijesti/hrvatska/kronologija-slucaja-mrkonjic-grad-sto-se-doista-dogodilo-1995.-i-1996.-tko-je-sudjelovao-u-borbama-cija-su-imena-zavrsila-u-kaznenim-prijavama...-5258975 |access-date=2022-10-01 |website=www.jutarnji.hr |language=hr-hr}}</ref> Serbian sources quote 1,192 civilians dead or missing.<ref>{{harvnb|RTS|18 November 2012}}</ref> The [[Humanitarian Law Center]] estimates around 400 Serb civilians killed.<ref>{{cite web|work=[[Humanitarian Law Center]]|title=The Victims to Become the Concern of the Societies and Institutions of Serbia and Croatia|url=https://www.hlc-rdc.org/en/public-information/press-releases-informisanje/the-victims-to-become-the-concern-of-the-societies-and-institutions-of-serbia-and-croatia/|date=4 August 2020}}</ref> ICTY prosecutors set the number of civilian deaths at 324.<ref>{{harvnb|ABC News|17 November 2012}}</ref> Croatian government officials estimate that 42 Croatian civilians were killed during the operation.<ref>{{harvnb|HRW|1996|loc=p. 2, note 1}}</ref>

It is difficult to determine the exact number of properties destroyed during and after Operation Storm, since a large number of houses had already sustained damage since the beginning of the war.<ref name=Biondich/> [[Human Rights Watch]] (HRW) estimates that more than 5,000 homes were destroyed during and after the battle.<ref>{{harvnb|HRW|1996|p=19}}</ref> Out of the 122 [[Serbian Orthodox Church|Serbian Orthodox]] churches in the area, one was destroyed and 17 were damaged, but most of the damage to the churches occurred prior to the Serb retreat.<ref>{{harvnb|Blaskovich|1997|p=96}}</ref> HRW also reported that the vast majority of the abuses during Operation Storm were committed by Croatian forces. These abuses, which continued on a large scale for months afterward, included [[summary execution]]s of elderly and infirm Serbs who remained behind and the wholesale burning and destruction of Serb villages and property. In the months following Operation Storm, at least 150 Serb civilians were summarily executed and another 110 persons forcibly disappeared.<ref>{{harvnb|HRW|1996|p=2}}</ref> One such example is the [[Varivode massacre]], in which nine Serb civilians were killed.{{sfn|Clark|2014|p=130}} Other recorded crimes against Serb civilians either during or in the aftermath of Operation Storm occurred in [[Komić killings|Komić]], [[Kijani killings|Kijani]], [[Golubić killings|Golubić]], [[Uzdolje killings|Uzdolje]], [[Grubori massacre|Grubori]], and [[Gošić killings|Gošić]].<ref>{{Cite web |last=Milekic |first=Sven |date=2017-08-04 |title=Croatia’s Operation Storm: Crimes Unpunished 22 Years On |url=https://balkaninsight.com/2017/08/04/croatia-s-operation-storm-crimes-unpunished-22-years-on-08-03-2017/ |access-date=2025-11-17 |website=Balkan Insight |language=en-US}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |title=Golubić |url=https://snv.hr/en/zlocini/golubic/ |access-date=2025-11-17 |website=Srpsko Narodno Vijeće - SNV |language=en-US}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |date=1995-09-09 |title=Croats slaughter elderly by the dozen |url=https://www.independent.co.uk/news/world/croats-slaughter-elderly-by-the-dozen-1600351.html |access-date=2025-11-17 |website=The Independent |language=en}}</ref> The victims were often shot, burned alive, raped or beheaded.<ref>{{Cite web |date=1995-09-09 |title=Croats slaughter elderly by the dozen |url=https://www.independent.co.uk/news/world/croats-slaughter-elderly-by-the-dozen-1600351.html |access-date=2025-11-17 |website=The Independent |language=en}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |date=1995-09-14 |title=In rebellious Serb Krajina, a massacre becomes mishap |url=https://www.baltimoresun.com/1995/09/14/in-rebellious-serb-krajina-a-massacre-becomes-mishap/ |access-date=2025-11-17 |website=Baltimore Sun |language=en-US}}</ref>

{{As of|November 2012}}, the Croatian authorities have received 6,390 reports of crimes committed in the area during or after Operation Storm, and have convicted 2,380 persons of committing looting, arson, murders, war crimes and other illegal acts. As of the same date, 24 more trials of war crimes related to Operation Storm were in progress.<ref>{{harvnb|Večernji list|27 November 2012}}</ref> In 2012, Serbian authorities were investigating five cases of war crimes committed during Operation Storm.<ref>{{harvnb|B92|21 November 2012}}</ref> On the 25th anniversary of the Operation, the [[Balkan Insight|Balkan Investigative Reporting Network]] analyzed documents from the ICTY trial and found that very few of the perpetrators of killings of Serb civilians have been brought to justice while none of the commanders of the units responsible have been prosecuted.<ref>{{cite web |last1=Vladisavljevic |first1=Anja |last2=Stojanovic |first2=Milica |title=Court Records Reveal Croatian Units' Role in Operation Storm Killings |url=https://balkaninsight.com/2020/08/05/court-records-reveal-croatian-units-role-in-operation-storm-killings/ |website=BalkanInsight |publisher=BIRN |date=5 August 2020}}</ref>

In February 2025, The Higher Court in Belgrade scheduled the trial of four Croatian Air Force officers, charging them with war crimes over the Bosanski Petrovac and Svodna refugee column bombing case. As they are unavailable to Serbian authorities, the trial will proceed in absentia. A preparatory hearing was held in November 2022, but the court sought Croatia’s stance on the matter. Croatian authorities declined to cooperate, refusing to deliver the trial summons.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Tanjug |date=2025-02-07 |title=Počinje suđenje hrvatskim pilotima koji su optuženi za ratne zločine u "Oluji" |url=https://www.euronews.rs/srbija/drustvo/156561/sudenje-hrvatskim-pilotima-za-ratne-zlocine-u-oluji/vest |access-date=2025-02-17 |website=Euronews.rs |language=sr}}</ref><ref name="dnevnik">{{Cite web|last=Dnevnik| date=2025-02-10 |title=Odgođeno suđenje hrvatskim pilotima optuženima za raketiranje izbjegličke kolone tijekom Oluje |url=https://dnevnik.hr/vijesti/svijetodgodjeno-sudjenje-hrvatskim-pilotima-optuzenim-za-raketiranje-izbjeglicke-kolone-tijekom-oluje---895756.html |access-date=2025-02-17|website=Dnevnik.hr|language=hr-hr}}</ref> The Croatian government stated that they would use all mechanisms to protect their pilots, and claimed that the trial is politically motivated. Croatia disputes the Serbian judiciary's jurisdiction for alleged acts committed on the territory outside of Serbia by people who are not Serbian citizens and argues that the ICTY has already investigated the events.<ref name="dnevnik" />

==Aftermath==
[[File:16 obljetnica vojnoredarstvene operacije Oluja 05082011 Kninska tvrdjava 155.jpg|thumb|Soldiers raising the [[flag of Croatia]] in the Knin Fortress during Operation Storm commemoration, 5 August 2011|alt=Hoisting of Croatian flag]]
The defeat of the RSK led the Bosnian Serbs to realise that a settlement in Bosnia and Herzegovina must be negotiated as soon as possible,<ref name=BB374377>{{harvnb|CIA|2002|pp=374–377}}</ref> and reversed the tide of the war against the Serbs,<ref name=Dunigan94/> giving US diplomacy a strong boost.<ref>{{harvnb|Daalder|2000|p=173}}</ref> The success of Operation Storm also represented a [[strategic victory]] in the Bosnian War as it lifted the siege of Bihać,<ref name=Marijan134/> and allowed the Croatian and Bosnian leadership to plan a full-scale military intervention in the VRS-held Banja Luka area—one aimed at creating a new balance of power in Bosnia and Herzegovina, a buffer zone along the Croatian border, and contributing to the resolution of the war.<ref name=BB374377/> The intervention materialized as [[Operation Mistral 2]] in September 1995. Combined with a [[1995 NATO air campaign in Bosnia and Herzegovina|NATO air campaign in Bosnia and Herzegovina]],<ref name=BB374377/> it led to the start of peace talks that would result in the [[Dayton Agreement]] a few months later.<ref>{{harvnb|Time|11 September 1995}}</ref> The development also led to the restoration of the remaining Serb-held areas in eastern Slavonia and [[Baranya (region)|Baranja]] to Croatian control through the [[Erdut Agreement]],<ref>{{harvnb|Ramet|Matić|2007|p=46}}</ref> ending the Croatian War of Independence in November.<ref>{{harvnb|The New York Times|12 November 1995}}</ref>

The ease with which the HV achieved victory surprised many observers as Western intelligence services predicted a Croatian defeat.<ref>{{harvnb|Ahrens|2007|p=173}}</ref> International reactions to Operation Storm quickly evolved from emotive arguments, supportive of either side in the battle, to those calmly assessing the situation on the ground.<ref name=Ahrens176>{{harvnb|Ahrens|2007|pp=176–179}}</ref> UN officials and most international media criticised Croatia.<ref name=Sadkovich137>{{harvnb|Sadkovich|1998|p=137}}</ref> [[Carl Bildt]], an EU negotiator working for the former Yugoslavia, publicly condemned Croatia, while UN Special Representative Stoltenberg urged the UN Secretary General Personal Representative [[Yasushi Akashi]] to request NATO strikes against the HV.<ref name=Ahrens176/> German Foreign Minister [[Klaus Kinkel]] expressed regret but added that "...&nbsp;the years of Serb aggression&nbsp;... have sorely tried Croatia's patience".<ref>{{harvnb|Time|14 August 1995}}</ref> The US response was mixed. While [[United States Secretary of Defense|Secretary of Defense]] [[William J. Perry|William Perry]] reflected favourably on the military development,<ref name=Sadkovich137/> while Galbraith declared his disapproval. On 10 August, the UN Security Council issued [[United Nations Security Council Resolution 1009|Resolution 1009]] demanding that Croatia halt military operations, condemning the targeting of UN peacekeepers, and calling for the resumption of talks—but not calling for a HV withdrawal.<ref name=Ahrens176/> By 18 August, US diplomats on [[Robert Frasure]]'s team tasked to mediate in the Bosnian War believed Operation Storm lent their diplomatic mission a chance to succeed,<ref>{{harvnb|Holbrooke|1999|p=73}}</ref> reflecting the opinion of [[President of the United States|US President]] Bill Clinton that the Serbs would not negotiate seriously unless they sustained major military defeats.<ref>{{harvnb|Riley|2010|pp=214–215}}</ref>
[[File:16 obljetnica vojnoredarstvene operacije Oluja 05082011 355.jpg|thumb|A ceremony marking the 16th anniversary of Operation Storm]]

In Serbia, Milošević condemned the Croatian attack, but the Milošević-influenced press also denounced the leadership of the RSK as being incompetent,<ref>{{harvnb|The Independent|5 August 1995}}</ref> while the most extreme politicians, including [[Vojislav Šešelj]], demanded retaliation against Croatia.<ref>{{harvnb|The Independent|6 August 1995}}</ref> Bosnian Serb leader [[Radovan Karadžić]] begged for the Yugoslav Army to help while accusing Milošević of treason.<ref>{{harvnb|The Independent|9 August 1995 (a)}}</ref>

In Croatia, HV units returning to their bases were given heroes' welcomes in numerous cities, and a [[Orders, decorations, and medals of Croatia|commemorative medal]] was created to be issued to HV troops who took part in the operation.<ref>{{harvnb|Narodne novine|7 August 1995}}</ref> On 26 August, Croatia organised the Freedom Train—a railroad tour taking Tuđman and the bulk of Croatia's government officials, public personalities, journalists and the [[diplomatic corps]] in Croatia from Zagreb to Karlovac, Gospić, Knin and Split.<ref>{{harvnb|Tanner|2001|p=298}}</ref> Tuđman gave a speech at each of the stops.<ref>{{harvnb|Office of the President}}</ref> In Knin, he declared: "[The Serbs] didn't even have time to collect their dirty [money] and their dirty underwear. On this day, we can say that Croatia stopped bearing its historical cross. This is not just the liberation of land, but the creation of a foundation for a free and independent Croatia for centuries to come."<ref>{{harvnb|Hockenos|2003|p=100}}</ref> During the final rally in Split, which drew a crowd of 300,000, Tuđman vowed to liberate [[Vukovar]] as well.<ref>{{harvnb|Nacional|17 May 2005}}</ref>

==Commemoration==
Croats and Serbs hold opposing views of the operation.<ref>{{harvnb|B92|4 August 2012}}</ref> In Croatia, 5 August—the day that the HV captured Knin—was chosen as [[Victory Day (Croatia)|Victory and Homeland Thanksgiving Day and the Day of Croatian Defenders]], the [[Public holidays in Croatia|Croatian public holiday]] when Operation Storm is officially celebrated.<ref>{{harvnb|HRT|5 August 2012}}</ref> In Serbia and the Republika Srpska, the day is marked by mourning for the Serbs killed and those who fled during or after the operation.<ref>{{harvnb|Politika|4 August 2010}}</ref>

In 2015, on the 20th anniversary of the operation, Croatia national TV (HRT) produced ''Godina Oluje,'' a four episode documentary about the preparation and execution of Operation Storm. The series was directed by Croatian American filmmaker Jack Baric.<ref>{{Cite web |title=SERIJAL 'GODINA OLUJE': Kako je dokumentarac Jacka Barica 2015. otkrio istinu o ulozi Amerikanaca u 'Oluji' |url=https://www.nacional.hr/serijal-godina-oluje-kako-je-dokumentarac-jacka-barica-2015-otkrio-istinu-o-ulozi-amerikanaca-u-oluji/ |access-date=2023-01-01 |website=NACIONAL.HR |date=5 August 2021 |language=hr}}</ref>

On the 23rd anniversary of the operation, the celebration in Knin was attended by brigadier Ivan Mašulović, [[military attaché]] of [[Montenegro]]. It was the first time that Montenegro sent an envoy to Knin. The move was heavily criticized by Montenegrin [[Montenegro–Serbia relations|pro-Serbian]] politicians and Serbian media. Montenegrin [[Right-wing politics|right-wing]] party [[New Serb Democracy]] (NSD) called Mašulović a traitor, as well as those "who sent him to a celebration of a crime against the Serbian people."<ref>{{Cite web|last=Žabec|first=Krešimir|date=2018-08-05|title=U Kninu na proslavi Oluje nikad manje posjetitelja, sve je prošlo bez euforije, u kafićima razočarani: 'A kako će biti gužvi kada su svi u Irskoj'|url=https://www.jutarnji.hr/vijesti/hrvatska/u-kninu-na-proslavi-oluje-nikad-manje-posjetitelja-sve-je-proslo-bez-euforije-u-kaficima-razocarani-a-kako-ce-biti-guzvi-kada-su-svi-u-irskoj-7691646|access-date=2020-08-08|website=Jutarnji list|language=hr-hr}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|date=2018-08-06|title=Montenegrin Officer Slammed for Attending Croatian 'Storm' Ceremony|url=https://balkaninsight.com/2018/08/06/montenegro-officer-storm-commemoration-attendance-causes-anger-08-06-2018/|access-date=2020-08-08|website=Balkan Insight|language=en-US}}</ref> Some went so far as to compare him to Montenegrin fascist collaborator [[Sekula Drljević]].<ref>{{Cite web|date=2018-08-07|title="Ljudski izrod" - uvrede za atašea Crne Gore zbog Oluje|url=https://express.24sata.hr/top-news/ljudski-izrod-uvrede-za-atasea-crne-gore-zbog-oluje-17049|access-date=2020-08-08|website=Express|language=hr}}</ref> [[Ministry of Defence (Montenegro)|Montenegrin Ministry of Defence]] defended their decision to send an envoy stating that "Montenegro would not fight anyone else's battles. Montenegro has the stance of building good neighbourly relations with all countries in the region," including "close and friendly" Serbia and "close and friendly" [[NATO]] ally Croatia.<ref>{{Cite web|last=Hina|date=2018-08-07|title=Montenegro Defends Participation in Operation Storm Celebrations|url=https://www.total-croatia-news.com/politics/30256-montenegro-defends-participation-in-operation-storm-celebrations|access-date=2020-08-08|website=Total Croatia News|language=en-gb|archive-date=29 July 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210729131907/https://www.total-croatia-news.com/politics/30256-montenegro-defends-participation-in-operation-storm-celebrations|url-status=dead}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|last1=D. M.|last2=Hina|date=2018-08-07|title=Crna Gora brani nazočnost svojeg izaslanika na proslavi Oluje|url=https://vijesti.hrt.hr/455631/crna-gora-brani-nazocnost-svojeg-izaslanika-na-proslavi-oluje-u-kninu|access-date=2020-08-08|website=Hrvatska radiotelevizija|language=hr-hr}}</ref>

On the 25th anniversary of the operation, the celebration in Knin was attended for the first time ever by an ethnic [[Serbs of Croatia|Serb]] political representative, [[Deputy Prime Minister of Croatia]] [[Boris Milošević]]. His move was applauded across Croatia, with [[Prime Minister of Croatia]] [[Andrej Plenković]] stating that it will "send a new message for Croatian society, relations between Croatians and Serb minority ... between Croatia and Serbia."<ref name=":0" /> Other notable politicians who praised it include member of the [[Opposition (Croatia)|opposition]] [[Social Democratic Party of Croatia|Social Democratic Party]] (SDP) [[Peđa Grbin]], president of the [[Independent Democratic Serb Party]] (SDSS) [[Milorad Pupovac]], leader of the [[Democratic Alliance of Croats in Vojvodina]] (DSHV) [[Tomislav Žigmanov]], Mayor of Knin Marko Jelić and retired general [[Pavao Miljavac]].<ref>{{Cite web|last=Vuković|first=Rozita|date=2020-08-01|title=Nakon 25 godina došlo je do prekretnice za Srbe u Hrvatskoj: 'Moramo iskazati počast svim žrtvama'|url=https://www.jutarnji.hr/vijesti/hrvatska/nakon-25-godina-doslo-je-do-prekretnice-za-srbe-u-hrvatskoj-moramo-iskazati-pocast-svim-zrtvama-15011348|access-date=2020-08-07|website=Jutarnji list|language=hr-hr}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|date=2020-08-03|title=Pupovac: Boris Milošević zaslužuje podršku svih - i u Hrvatskoj i izvan nje|url=http://hr.n1info.com/Vijesti/a532189/Pupovac-Boris-Milosevic-zasluzuje-podrsku-svih-i-u-Hrvatskoj-i-izvan-nje.html|access-date=2020-08-07|website=N1 Hrvatska|language=hr|archive-date=6 August 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200806125313/http://hr.n1info.com/Vijesti/a532189/Pupovac-Boris-Milosevic-zasluzuje-podrsku-svih-i-u-Hrvatskoj-i-izvan-nje.html|url-status=dead}}</ref> Milošević's move was met with criticism from the [[Far-right politics in Croatia|far-right]] party [[Miroslav Škoro Homeland Movement|Homeland Movement]] (DP) and members of [[Croatian Defence Forces]] (HOS) paramilitary. Leader of the Homeland Movement [[Miroslav Škoro]] refused to participate in the official ceremony, despite being a Deputy [[Speaker of the Croatian Parliament|Speaker of the Parliament]], and stated that "there is no reason for reconciliation of any kind."<ref>{{Cite web|last=Hina|date=2020-08-05|title=Škoro: Nema razloga ni za kakvo pomirenje, a u Kninu ima više policije i vojske nego naroda|url=https://www.jutarnji.hr/vijesti/hrvatska/skoro-nema-razloga-ni-za-kakvo-pomirenje-a-u-kninu-ima-vise-policije-i-vojske-nego-naroda-15012073|access-date=2020-08-07|website=Jutarnji list|language=hr-hr}}</ref> The move was also received negatively by the [[Government of Serbia|Governments of Serbia]] and [[Government of Republika Srpska|Republika Srpska]]. At the celebration, Prime Minister Plenković, [[President of Croatia|President]] [[Zoran Milanović]] and General Gotovina sent messages of peace and reconciliation and sympathy for Serbian civilian victims as well.<ref name="balkaninsight">{{cite web|title=Croatia Hails 25th Anniversary of Operation Storm Victory; Serbs Mourn|url=https://balkaninsight.com/2020/08/05/croatia-hails-25th-anniversary-of-operation-storm-victory-serbs-mourn/|date=2020-08-05|access-date=2020-08-07|website=Balkan Insight|last1=Vladisavljević|first1=Anja|last2=Stojanović|first2=Milica}}</ref><ref name=":0">{{Cite web|date=2020-08-05|title=Croatia marks 25 years since war with tolerance message|url=https://www.aljazeera.com/news/2020/08/croatia-marks-25-years-war-tolerance-message-200805085400673.html|access-date=2020-08-07|website=Al Jazeera}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|last=Hina|date=2020-08-05|title=Gotovina komentirao HOS-ovce u Kninu: 'U svemu pa i u slobodi postoji disciplina'|url=https://www.rtl.hr/vijesti-hr/novosti/hrvatska/3862718/gotovina-komentirao-hos-ovce-u-kninu-u-svemu-pa-i-u-slobodi-postoji-disciplina/|access-date=2020-08-07|website=rtl.hr|language=hr|archive-date=7 August 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200807030240/https://www.rtl.hr/vijesti-hr/novosti/hrvatska/3862718/gotovina-komentirao-hos-ovce-u-kninu-u-svemu-pa-i-u-slobodi-postoji-disciplina/|url-status=dead}}</ref> Serbia held a commemoration on the [[Rača Bridge]] over the [[Sava River]], while a tableau was staged on the bridge with actors dressed as refugees sitting in Yugoslav-era cars and tractors.<ref name="balkaninsight" />

==Footnotes==
{{Reflist|20em}}

==References==
;Books
{{Refbegin|2}}
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*{{cite book |last1=Mulaj |first1=Kledja |title=Politics of Ethnic Cleansing: Nation-state Building and Provision of In/security in Twentieth-century Balkans |date=2008 |publisher=Lexington Books |location=Lanham, Maryland |isbn=978-0-7391-1782-8}}
*{{cite book|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=lIDkGPfxQrMC|title=War in the Balkans, 1991–2002|publisher=[[Strategic Studies Institute]]|first=R. Craig|last=Nation|year=2003|isbn=978-1-58487-134-7|location=Carlisle, Pennsylvania}}{{Dead link|date=July 2023 |bot=InternetArchiveBot |fix-attempted=yes }}
*{{cite book|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=2fCFgHXEIuAC|title=Turning the Tide of War: 50 Battles That Changed the Course of Modern History|publisher=[[Hamlyn (publishers)|Hamlyn]]|first=Tim|last=Newark|year=2005|isbn=978-0-681-33787-9|location=London}}
*{{cite book|last1=Pearl|first1=Daniel|author-link=Daniel Pearl|author-link2=Helene Cooper|first2=Helene|last2=Cooper|year=2002|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=BInS_EkHIUsC|title=At Home in the World: Collected Writings from The Wall Street Journal|publisher=[[Simon & Schuster]]|isbn=978-0-7432-4317-9|access-date=31 December 2012|location=New York}}
*{{cite book|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=FTw3lEqi2-oC|title=The Three Yugoslavias: State-Building And Legitimation, 1918–2006|first=Sabrina P.|last=Ramet|publisher=[[Indiana University Press]]|year=2006|isbn=978-0-253-34656-8|location=Bloomington}}
*{{cite book|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=LIAOo5oYThUC|title=Democratic Transition in Croatia: Value Transformation, Education & Media|first1=Sabrina P.|last1=Ramet|first2=Davorka|last2=Matić|publisher=[[Texas A&M University Press]]|year=2007|isbn=978-1-58544-587-5|location=College Station}}
*{{cite book|url=https://archive.org/details/decisivebattlesf0000rile|url-access=registration|title=Decisive Battles: From Yorktown to Operation Desert Storm|first=Jonathon|last=Riley|author-link=Jonathon Riley (British Army officer)|publisher=[[Continuum International Publishing Group]]|year=2010|isbn=978-1-84725-250-0|location=London}}
*{{cite book|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=E1arEzpHp04C|title=The U.S. Media and Yugoslavia: 1991–1995|first=James J.|last=Sadkovich|publisher=[[Greenwood Publishing Group]]|year=1998|isbn=978-0-275-95046-0|location=Westport, Connecticut}}
*{{cite book|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=uWl5WE2riGUC|title=The UN International Criminal Tribunals: The Former Yugoslavia, Rwanda and Sierra Leone|first=William A.|last=Schabas|year=2006|isbn=978-0-521-84657-8|publisher=Cambridge University Press|location=Cambridge}}
*{{cite book|url=https://www.scribd.com/doc/2867332/Mr-Milisav-Sekulic-Knin-Je-Pao-U-Beogradu|title=Knin je pao u Beogradu|language=sr|trans-title=Knin was lost in Belgrade|first=Milisav|last=Sekulić|year=2000|publisher=Nidda Verlag|oclc=47749339|location=Bad Vilbel, Germany|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20131111022559/http://www.scribd.com/doc/2867332/Mr-Milisav-Sekulic-Knin-Je-Pao-U-Beogradu|archive-date=11 November 2013}}
*{{cite book|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=-90jLdliTFUC|title=Kosovo's Refugees in the European Union|first=Joanne|last=van Selm|publisher=[[Continuum International Publishing Group]]|year=2000|isbn=978-1-85567-641-1|location=London}}
*{{cite book|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=sfcpsAoSoewC|title=Croatia: A Nation Forged in War|first=Marcus|last=Tanner|year=2001|publisher=Yale University Press|isbn=978-0-300-09125-0|location=New Haven, Connecticut}}
*{{cite book|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=cJM0z-eATfQC|title=Nordic, Central & Southeastern Europe 2012|first=Wayne C.|last=Thompson|publisher=[[Rowman & Littlefield]]|isbn=978-1-61048-891-4|year=2012|location=Lanham, Maryland}}
*{{cite book|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=G5Px01NrM7QC|title=The Yugoslav Wars (1): Slovenia & Croatia 1991–95|first=Nigel|last=Thomas|year=2006|publisher=[[Osprey Publishing]]|isbn=978-1-84176-963-9|location=Oxford, England}}
*{{cite book|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=IDzmXEDJFX8C|title=Serbia Under Milošević: Politics in the 1990s|first=Robert|last=Thomas|year=1999|publisher=[[C. Hurst & Co.]]|isbn=978-1-85065-367-7|location=London, England}}
*{{cite book|author1-last=Toal|author1-first=Gerard|author2-last=Dahlman|author2-first=Carl T.|year=2011|title=Bosnia Remade: Ethnic Cleansing and Its Reversal|publisher=[[Oxford University Press]]|location=[[New York City|New York]]|isbn=978-0-19-973036-0|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=Q1TrvGxJeasC}}
*{{cite book|chapter-url=https://books.google.com/books?id=i9zyRYYIJK4C|title=The United Nations Security Council and War: The Evolution of Thought and Practice Since 1945|editor=Vaughan Lowe|editor2=Adam Roberts|editor3=Jennifer Welsh|editor4=Dominik Zaum|first=Susan L.|last=Woodward|publisher=[[Oxford University Press]]|year=2010|isbn=978-0-19-161493-4|chapter=The Security Council and the Wars in the Former Yugoslavia|location=Oxford, England}}
*{{cite book|last=Sadat|first=Leila Nadya|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=38FWDwAAQBAJ&pg=PA403|title=Seeking Accountability for the Unlawful Use of Force|publisher=Cambridge University Press|year=2018|isbn=978-1316941423}}
*{{cite book |last1=Wrage |first1=Stephen |last2=Cooper |first2=Scott |title=No Fly Zones and International Security: Politics and Strategy |date=2019 |publisher=Routledge |location=New York |isbn=978-1-317-08718-2 |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=ntSNDwAAQBAJ&dq=%22operation+storm%22+decisive&pg=PT72 }}
{{refend}}
;News reports
{{Refbegin|2}}
*{{cite web |ref={{harvid|Balkan Insight|7 August 2015}} |url=http://www.balkaninsight.com/rs/article/za-decu-ubijenu-u-izbegli%C4%8Dkoj-koloni-jo%C5%A1-niko-nije-ka%C5%BEnjen-08-06-2015 |publisher=[[Balkan Insight]] |title=Petrovačka cesta, zločin bez kazne |trans-title=No Convictions for Petrovačka cesta |language=sr |date=7 August 2015 |archive-date=2 October 2015 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20151002053337/http://www.balkaninsight.com/rs/article/za-decu-ubijenu-u-izbegli%C4%8Dkoj-koloni-jo%C5%A1-niko-nije-ka%C5%BEnjen-08-06-2015 |url-status=live}}
*{{cite web |ref={{harvid|B92|4 August 2012}} |url=http://www.b92.net/eng/news/politics-article.php?yyyy=2012&mm=08&dd=04&nav_id=81620 |publisher=[[B92]] |title=17th anniversary of Operation Storm marked |date=4 August 2012 |archive-date=30 November 2013 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20131130125901/http://www.b92.net/eng/news/politics-article.php?yyyy=2012&mm=08&dd=04&nav_id=81620 |url-status=dead}}
*{{cite web |ref={{harvid|Index.hr|5 August 2011}} |publisher=[[Index.hr]] |language=hr |title=Oluja: 16 godina od hrvatskog rušenja Velike Srbije |trans-title=Storm: 16 years since Croatia toppled Greater Serbia |first=Zvonko |last=Alač |date=5 August 2011 |url=http://www.index.hr/mobile/clanak.aspx?category=&id=505183 |archive-date=30 November 2013 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20131130130028/http://www.index.hr/mobile/clanak.aspx?category=&id=505183 |url-status=dead}}
*{{cite news |ref={{harvid|RFE|20 August 2010}} |publisher=[[Radio Free Europe/Radio Liberty]] |url=http://www.slobodnaevropa.org/content/hrvatska_oluja_vojska_mpri/2133466.html |title=Tvrdnje da je MPRI pomagao pripremu 'Oluje' izmišljene |language=hr |trans-title=Claims that the MPRI helped prepare the 'Storm' are fabrications |date=20 August 2010 |first=Ankica |last=Barbir-Mladinović |newspaper=Radio Slobodna Evropa |archive-date=29 August 2010 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100829200648/http://www.slobodnaevropa.org/content/hrvatska_oluja_vojska_mpri/2133466.html |url-status=live}}
*{{cite news |ref={{harvid|The Guardian|8 July 2001}} |newspaper=[[The Guardian]] |url=https://www.theguardian.com/world/2001/jul/08/warcrimes.balkans1 |title=Guns secret set to haunt US |last1=Beaumont |first1=Peter |last2=Vulliamy |first2=Ed |date=8 July 2001 |archive-date=25 August 2013 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130825095407/https://www.theguardian.com/world/2001/jul/08/warcrimes.balkans1 |url-status=live}}
*{{cite news |ref={{harvid|The Independent|10 October 1992}} |newspaper=[[The Independent]] |url=https://www.independent.co.uk/news/world/croatia-built-web-of-contacts-to-evade-weapons-embargo-1556500.html |title=Croatia built 'web of contacts' to evade weapons embargo |first=Christopher |last=Bellamy |date=10 October 1992 |archive-date=10 November 2012 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20121110025827/http://www.independent.co.uk/news/world/croatia-built-web-of-contacts-to-evade-weapons-embargo-1556500.html |url-status=live}}
*{{cite news |ref={{harvid|The New York Times|31 July 1995}} |url=https://www.nytimes.com/1995/07/31/world/croats-confident-as-battle-looms-over-serbian-area.html |title=Croats Confident As Battle Looms Over Serbian Area |newspaper=[[The New York Times]] |date=31 July 1995 |author-link=Raymond Bonner |first=Raymond |last=Bonner |archive-date=6 November 2012 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20121106111022/http://www.nytimes.com/1995/07/31/world/croats-confident-as-battle-looms-over-serbian-area.html |url-status=live}}
*{{cite news |ref={{harvid|The New York Times|4 August 1995}} |newspaper=The New York Times |url=https://www.nytimes.com/1995/08/04/world/croatian-army-begins-attack-on-rebel-serbs.html |title=Croatian Army Begins Attack on Rebel Serbs |first=Raymond |last=Bonner |date=4 August 1995 |archive-date=6 November 2012 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20121106041112/http://www.nytimes.com/1995/08/04/world/croatian-army-begins-attack-on-rebel-serbs.html |url-status=live}}
*{{cite news |ref={{harvid|The New York Times|17 August 1995}} |newspaper=The New York Times |url=https://www.nytimes.com/1995/08/17/world/dubrovnik-finds-hint-of-deja-vu-in-serbian-artillery.html |title=Dubrovnik Finds Hint of Deja Vu in Serbian Artillery |first=Raymond |last=Bonner |date=17 August 1995 |archive-date=2 October 2013 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20131002145315/http://www.nytimes.com/1995/08/17/world/dubrovnik-finds-hint-of-deja-vu-in-serbian-artillery.html |url-status=live}}
*{{cite news |ref={{harvid|The New York Times|13 August 1995}} |newspaper=The New York Times |url=https://www.nytimes.com/1995/08/13/weekinreview/the-world-the-serbs-caravan-of-fear.html |title=The Serbs' Caravan of Fear |first=Raymond |last=Bonner |date=13 August 1995 |archive-date=6 November 2012 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20121106041210/http://www.nytimes.com/1995/08/13/weekinreview/the-world-the-serbs-caravan-of-fear.html |url-status=live}}
*{{cite news |ref={{harvid|The New York Times|2 May 1995}} |newspaper=The New York Times |url=https://www.nytimes.com/1995/05/02/world/croatia-hits-area-rebel-serbs-hold-crossing-un-lines.html |title=Croatia hits area rebel Serbs hold, crossing U.N. lines |first=Roger |last=Cohen |author-link=Roger Cohen |date=2 May 1995 |archive-date=30 September 2013 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130930191745/http://www.nytimes.com/1995/05/02/world/croatia-hits-area-rebel-serbs-hold-crossing-un-lines.html |url-status=live}}
*{{cite news |ref={{harvid|The New York Times|24 September 1991}} |newspaper=The New York Times |url=https://www.nytimes.com/1991/09/24/world/serbs-and-croats-seeing-war-in-different-prisms.html |title=Serbs and Croats: Seeing War in Different Prisms |first=Alan |last=Cowell |author-link=Alan S. Cowell |date=24 September 1991 |archive-date=13 October 2013 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20131013044908/http://www.nytimes.com/1991/09/24/world/serbs-and-croats-seeing-war-in-different-prisms.html |url-status=live}}
*{{cite news |ref={{harvid|The Independent|27 November 1994}} |url=https://www.independent.co.uk/news/bihac-fears-massacre-1439958.html |newspaper=The Independent |title=Bihac fears massacre |first1=Emma |last1=Daly |first2=Andrew |last2=Marshall |date=27 November 1994 |archive-date=9 November 2012 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20121109142316/http://www.independent.co.uk/news/bihac-fears-massacre-1439958.html |url-status=live}}
*{{cite news |ref={{harvid|The Independent|9 August 1995 (a)}} |newspaper=The Independent |url=https://www.independent.co.uk/news/world/bosnian-serb-leader-accuses-milosevic-of-treason-1595407.html |title=Bosnian Serb leader accuses Milosevic of treason |date=9 August 1995 |first=Emma |last=Daly |archive-date=30 November 2013 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20131130130935/http://www.independent.co.uk/news/world/bosnian-serb-leader-accuses-milosevic-of-treason-1595407.html |url-status=live}}
*{{cite web |ref={{harvid|HRT|5 August 2012}} |publisher=[[Croatian Radiotelevision]] |language=hr |url=http://www.hrt.hr/index.php?id=vijesti-clanak&tx_ttnews%5Btt_news%5D=175551&cHash=5a41649d1d |title=Dan pobjede i 17. obljetnica Oluje |trans-title=Victory Day and the 17th Anniversary of the Storm |date=5 August 2012 |archive-date=17 February 2013 |archive-url=https://archive.today/20130217175048/http://www.hrt.hr/index.php?id=vijesti-clanak&tx_ttnews%5Btt_news%5D=175551&cHash=5a41649d1d |url-status=live}}
*{{cite news |ref={{harvid|The New York Times|3 March 1991}} |newspaper=The New York Times |url=https://www.nytimes.com/1991/03/03/world/belgrade-sends-troops-to-croatia-town.html |first=Stephen |last=Engelberg |title=Belgrade Sends Troops to Croatia Town |date=3 March 1991 |archive-date=2 October 2013 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20131002222925/http://www.nytimes.com/1991/03/03/world/belgrade-sends-troops-to-croatia-town.html |url-status=live}}
*{{cite web |ref={{harvid|B92|19 April 2011}} |publisher=B92 |url=http://www.b92.net/eng/news/region-article.php?yyyy=2011&mm=04&dd=19&nav_id=73883 |title=Ex-U.S. envoy: No ethnic cleansing in Croatia |date=19 April 2011 |archive-date=21 April 2011 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110421030436/http://www.b92.net/eng/news/region-article.php?yyyy=2011&mm=04&dd=19&nav_id=73883 |url-status=dead}}
*{{cite news |ref={{harvid|Time|14 August 1995}} |first=Kevin |last=Fedarko |title=The Guns of August |newspaper=[[Time (magazine)|Time]] |date=14 August 1995 |url=http://content.time.com/time/magazine/article/0,9171,983292,00.html |archive-date=30 November 2013 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20131130125510/http://content.time.com/time/magazine/article/0,9171,983292,00.html |url-status=live}}
*{{cite news |ref={{harvid|Time|11 September 1995}} |newspaper=[[Time (magazine)|Time]] |url=http://content.time.com/time/magazine/article/0,9171,983401-1,00.html |title=NATO and the Balkans: Louder than words |first=Kevin |last=Fedarko |date=11 September 1995 |archive-date=30 November 2013 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20131130125318/http://content.time.com/time/magazine/article/0,9171,983401-1,00.html |url-status=live}}
*{{cite news |ref={{harvid|The New York Times|12 November 1995}} |newspaper=The New York Times |url=https://www.nytimes.com/1995/11/13/world/serbs-in-croatia-resolve-key-issue-by-giving-up-land.html |title=Serbs in Croatia resolve key issue by giving up land |author-link=Chris Hedges |first=Chris |last=Hedges |date=12 November 1995 |archive-date=2 October 2013 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20131002144122/http://www.nytimes.com/1995/11/13/world/serbs-in-croatia-resolve-key-issue-by-giving-up-land.html |url-status=live}}
*{{cite news |ref={{harvid|The New York Times|30 April 2003}} |newspaper=The New York Times |url=https://www.nytimes.com/2003/04/30/world/janko-bobetko-84-is-dead-fought-to-free-croatians.html |title=Janko Bobetko, 84, Is Dead; Fought to Free Croatians |date=30 April 2003 |archive-date=30 November 2013 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20131130131613/http://www.nytimes.com/2003/04/30/world/janko-bobetko-84-is-dead-fought-to-free-croatians.html |url-status=live}}
*{{cite news |ref={{harvid|The New York Times|15 July 1992}} |url=https://www.nytimes.com/1992/07/15/world/the-walls-and-the-will-of-dubrovnik.html |title=The Walls and the Will of Dubrovnik |newspaper=The New York Times |first=Michael T. |last=Kaufman |author-link=Michael T. Kaufman |date=15 July 1992 |archive-date=14 June 2013 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130614235909/http://www.nytimes.com/1992/07/15/world/the-walls-and-the-will-of-dubrovnik.html |url-status=live}}
*{{cite news |ref={{harvid|The New York Times|15 July 1995}} |url=https://www.nytimes.com/1995/07/15/world/conflict-balkans-strategy-frustrated-croats-are-openly-preparing-major-assault.html |title=Frustrated Croats Are Openly Preparing a Major Assault on a Serbian Enclave |newspaper=The New York Times |date=15 July 1995 |author-link=Stephen Kinzer |first=Stephen |last=Kinzer |archive-date=8 November 2012 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20121108200346/http://www.nytimes.com/1995/07/15/world/conflict-balkans-strategy-frustrated-croats-are-openly-preparing-major-assault.html |url-status=live}}
*{{cite news |ref={{harvid|Jutarnji list|20 August 2010}} |newspaper=[[Jutarnji list]] |url=http://www.jutarnji.hr/peter-galbraith--srpska-tuzba-nema-sanse-na-sudu-/879419/ |language=hr |title=Peter Galbraith: Srpska tužba nema šanse na sudu |trans-title=Galbraith: Serbian claim stands no chance in court |date=20 August 2010 |first=Tomislav |last=Krasnec |archive-date=23 August 2010 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100823044919/http://www.jutarnji.hr/peter-galbraith--srpska-tuzba-nema-sanse-na-sudu-/879419 |url-status=live}}
*{{cite news |ref={{harvid|The Seattle Times|16 July 1992}} |newspaper=[[The Seattle Times]] |url=https://archive.seattletimes.com/archive/19920716/1502415/serb-artillery-hits-refugees |title=Serb Artillery Hits Refugees – At Least 8 Die As Shells Hit Packed Stadium |date=16 July 1992 |first=Peter |last=Maass |author-link=Peter Maass |archive-date=5 November 2013 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20131105053441/http://community.seattletimes.nwsource.com/archive/?date=19920716&slug=1502415 |url-status=live}}
*{{cite web |ref={{harvid|Index.hr|15 March 2012}} |publisher=[[Index.hr]] |url=http://www.index.hr/vijesti/clanak/ministar-branitelja-obisao-novu-masovnu-grobnicu-kod-petrinje-zakopano-osam-zrtava-rata/604507.aspx |title=Ministar branitelja obišao novu masovnu grobnicu: Kod Petrinje zakopano osam žrtava |language=hr |trans-title=Minister of veterans' affairs visits newly found mass grave: Eight victims buried near Petrinja |date=15 March 2012 |archive-date=30 November 2013 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20131130132027/http://www.index.hr/vijesti/clanak/ministar-branitelja-obisao-novu-masovnu-grobnicu-kod-petrinje-zakopano-osam-zrtava-rata/604507.aspx |url-status=live}}
*{{cite web |ref={{harvid|RTS|18 November 2012}} |publisher=[[Radio Television of Serbia]] |url=http://www.rts.rs/page/stories/sr/story/125/Društvo/1213328/Molitva+za+žrtve+i+ubijenu+pravdu.html |language=sr |title=Molitva za žrtve i ubijenu pravdu |trans-title=A prayer for victims and murdered justice |date=18 November 2012 |archive-date=30 November 2013 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20131130132332/http://www.rts.rs/page/stories/sr/story/125/Dru%25C5%25A1tvo/1213328/Molitva+za+%25C5%25BErtve+i+ubijenu+pravdu.html |url-status=live}}
*{{cite web |ref={{harvid|RFE|15 August 1995}} |publisher=Radio Free Europe/Radio Liberty |url=http://www.rferl.org/content/article/1140996.html |title='Sinister' development in Banja Luka exodus |date=15 August 1995 |first=Patrick |last=Moore |archive-date=17 February 2009 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090217063432/http://www.rferl.org/content/Article/1140996.html |url-status=live}}
*{{cite web |ref={{harvid|Nacional|17 May 2005}} |publisher=[[Nacional (weekly)|Nacional]] |language=hr |url=http://www.nacional.hr/clanak/18534/oblio-me-znoj-kad-je-tudman-rekao-srbima-da-se-ne-vracaju |title=Oblio me znoj kad je Tuđman rekao Srbima da se ne vraćaju |trans-title=I broke sweat when Tuđman told Serbs not to return |date=17 May 2005 |archive-date=11 February 2011 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110211173356/http://www.nacional.hr/clanak/18534/oblio-me-znoj-kad-je-tudman-rekao-srbima-da-se-ne-vracaju |url-status=dead}}
*{{cite web |ref={{harvid|B92|21 November 2012}} |publisher=B92 |url=http://www.b92.net/info/vesti/index.php?yyyy=2012&mm=11&dd=21&nav_category=64&nav_id=662121 |language=sr |title=Oluja: B92 otkriva šta se istražuje |trans-title=Storm: B92 reveals what is investigated |date=21 November 2012 |archive-date=30 November 2013 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20131130132707/http://www.b92.net/info/vesti/index.php?yyyy=2012&mm=11&dd=21&nav_category=64&nav_id=662121 |url-status=live}}
*{{cite web |ref={{harvid|RTS|3 September 2011}} |publisher=Radio Television of Serbia |language=sr |url=http://www.rts.rs/page/stories/sr/story/11/Region/1169142/%22Oluja%22+pred+ameri%C4%8Dkim+sudom.html |title="Oluja" pred američkim sudom |trans-title="Storm" before an American court |date=3 September 2011 |archive-date=10 October 2012 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20121010041222/http://www.rts.rs/page/stories/sr/story/11/Region/1169142/%22Oluja%22+pred+ameri%C4%8Dkim+sudom.html |url-status=live}}
*{{cite news |ref={{harvid|Večernji list|19 July 2010}} |newspaper=[[Večernji list]] |language=hr |url=http://www.vecernji.hr/hrvatska/srpske-izbjeglice-ne-nadamo-se-povratku-u-hrvatsku-169369 |title=Srpske izbjeglice: Ne nadamo se povratku u Hrvatsku |trans-title=Serb refugees: We don't hope to return to Croatia |date=19 July 2010 |first1=Jasmina |last1=Popović |first2=Branimir |last2=Bradarić |first3=Vesna |last3=Brnabić |archive-date=30 November 2013 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20131130124819/http://www.vecernji.hr/hrvatska/srpske-izbjeglice-ne-nadamo-se-povratku-u-hrvatsku-169369 |url-status=live}}
*{{cite news |ref={{harvid|BBC News|5 August 2005}} |url=https://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/world/europe/4747379.stm |publisher=[[BBC News]] |title=Evicted Serbs remember Storm |date=5 August 2005 |first=Matt |last=Prodger |author-link=Matt Prodger |archive-date=23 October 2012 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20121023091143/http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/europe/4747379.stm |url-status=live}}
*{{cite web |ref={{harvid|24sata|13 February 2009}} |publisher=[[24sata (Croatia)]] |url=http://www.24sata.hr/crna-kronika-news/puhovski-srpski-tenkovi-gazili-su-kolonu-izbjeglica-102400 |language=hr |title=Puhovski: Srpski tenkovi gazili su kolonu izbjeglica |trans-title=Puhovski: Serbian tanks ran over a refugee column |date=13 February 2009 |archive-date=30 November 2013 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20131130132915/http://www.24sata.hr/crna-kronika-news/puhovski-srpski-tenkovi-gazili-su-kolonu-izbjeglica-102400 |url-status=live}}
*{{cite web |ref={{harvid|Nacional|3 April 2005}} |publisher=Nacional |url=http://www.nacional.hr/clanak/11371/otkrivena-tajna-brijunskih-vrpci |language=hr |title=Otkrivena tajna brijunskih vrpci |trans-title=Brijuni tapes secret revealed |author-link=Ivo Pukanić |first=Ivo |last=Pukanić |date=3 April 2005 |archive-date=30 November 2013 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20131130133050/http://www.nacional.hr/clanak/11371/otkrivena-tajna-brijunskih-vrpci |url-status=dead}}
*{{cite web |ref={{harvid|Nacional|24 May 2005}} |publisher=Nacional |url=https://cryptome.org/us-op-storm.htm |last1=Pukanić |first1=Ivo |title=US Role in Storm |date=24 May 2005 |archive-date=10 March 2013 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130310130321/https://cryptome.org/us-op-storm.htm |url-status=live}}
*{{cite news |ref={{harvid|The New York Times|13 September 1993}} |url=https://www.nytimes.com/1993/09/13/world/rebel-serbs-list-50-croatia-sites-they-may-raid.html |title=Rebel Serbs List 50 Croatia Sites They May Raid |date=13 September 1993 |newspaper=The New York Times |archive-date=29 December 2011 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20111229225341/http://www.nytimes.com/1993/09/13/world/rebel-serbs-list-50-croatia-sites-they-may-raid.html |url-status=live}}
*{{cite news |ref={{harvid|The New York Times|19 August 1990}} |newspaper=The New York Times |url=https://www.nytimes.com/1990/08/19/world/roads-sealed-as-yugoslav-unrest-mounts.html |agency=[[Reuters]] |title=Roads Sealed as Yugoslav Unrest Mounts |date=19 August 1990 |archive-date=21 September 2013 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130921063029/http://www.nytimes.com/1990/08/19/world/roads-sealed-as-yugoslav-unrest-mounts.html |url-status=live}}
*{{cite web |ref={{harvid|Deutsche Welle|4 August 2011}} |publisher=[[Deutsche Welle]] |url=http://www.dw.de/prijepori-oko-broja-žrtava-oluje/a-15296561 |title=Prijepori oko broja žrtava "Oluje" |language=hr |trans-title=Disputes about number of casualties of the "Storm" continue |date=4 August 2011 |first=Dževad |last=Sabljaković |archive-date=14 August 2014 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140814110223/http://www.dw.de/prijepori-oko-broja-%C5%BErtava-oluje/a-15296561 |url-status=live}}
*{{cite news |ref={{harvid|The Baltimore Sun|13 August 1995}} |newspaper=[[The Baltimore Sun]] |url=https://www.baltimoresun.com/1995/08/13/serb-refugees-flex-muscle-in-bosnia-the-war-in-the-balkans/ |title=Serb refugees flex muscle in Bosnia |date=13 August 1995 |archive-date=30 November 2013 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20131130133750/http://articles.baltimoresun.com/1995-08-13/news/1995225015_1_banja-refugees-croats-and-muslims |url-status=live}}
*{{cite news |ref={{harvid|The Independent|5 August 1995}} |newspaper=The Independent |url=http://www.highbeam.com/doc/1P2-4732312.html |title=Serbia demands international action |first=Michael |last=Sheridan |date=5 August 1995 |archive-date=30 November 2013 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20131130133846/http://www.highbeam.com/doc/1P2-4732312.html |url-status=dead |access-date=25 April 2020}}
*{{cite news |ref={{harvid|The Independent|6 August 1995}} |newspaper=The Independent |url=https://www.independent.co.uk/news/world/fanatics-turn-on-milosevic-1595056.html |title=Fanatics turn on Milosevic |first=Michael |last=Sheridan |date=6 August 1995 |archive-date=30 November 2013 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20131130133953/http://www.independent.co.uk/news/world/fanatics-turn-on-milosevic-1595056.html |url-status=live}}
*{{cite news |ref={{harvid|The Independent|9 August 1995 (b)}} |newspaper=The Independent |title=Belgrade counts cost of ethnic dreams |url=https://www.independent.co.uk/news/world/belgrade-counts-cost-of-ethnic-dreams-1595404.html |first=Michael |last=Sheridan |date=9 August 1995 |archive-date=30 November 2013 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20131130134131/http://www.independent.co.uk/news/world/belgrade-counts-cost-of-ethnic-dreams-1595404.html |url-status=live}}
*{{cite news |ref={{harvid|The New York Times|12 March 2008}} |newspaper=The New York Times |url=https://www.nytimes.com/2008/03/12/world/europe/12hague.html?_r=0 |title=War Crimes Trial Begins for Croatian General Who Worked With Americans |author-link=Marlise Simons |first=Marlise |last=Simons |date=12 March 2008 |archive-date=30 November 2013 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20131130134535/http://www.nytimes.com/2008/03/12/world/europe/12hague.html?_r=3& |url-status=live}}
*{{cite web |ref={{harvid|Nova TV|5 August 2011}} |publisher=[[Nova TV (Croatia)]] |language=hr |title=Sretan vam Dan pobjede i domovinske zahvalnosti |trans-title=Happy victory day and national thanksgiving day |url=http://dnevnik.hr/vijesti/hrvatska/proslava-dana-pobjede-i-domovinske-zahvalnosti.html |date=5 August 2011 |archive-date=30 October 2013 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20131030232630/http://dnevnik.hr/vijesti/hrvatska/proslava-dana-pobjede-i-domovinske-zahvalnosti.html |url-status=live}}
*{{cite news |ref={{harvid|The Guardian|14 June 1999}} |newspaper=The Guardian |author-link=Jonathan Steele (journalist) |first=Jonathan |last=Steele |url=https://www.theguardian.com/world/1999/jun/14/balkans11 |date=14 June 1999 |title=Break the cycle of abuse |archive-date=24 August 2013 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130824004028/http://www.theguardian.com/world/1999/jun/14/balkans11 |url-status=live}}
*{{cite news |ref={{harvid|The New York Times|2 April 1991}} |newspaper=The New York Times |url=https://www.nytimes.com/1991/04/02/world/rebel-serbs-complicate-rift-on-yugoslav-unity.html |title=Rebel Serbs Complicate Rift on Yugoslav Unity |first=Chuck |last=Sudetic |author-link=Chuck Sudetic |date=2 April 1991 |archive-date=2 October 2013 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20131002222938/http://www.nytimes.com/1991/04/02/world/rebel-serbs-complicate-rift-on-yugoslav-unity.html |url-status=live}}
*{{cite news |ref={{harvid|The New York Times|26 June 1991}} |newspaper=The New York Times |url=https://www.nytimes.com/1991/06/26/world/2-yugoslav-states-vote-independence-to-press-demands.html |title=2 Yugoslav States Vote Independence To Press Demands |first=Chuck |last=Sudetic |date=26 June 1991 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20121110162855/http://www.nytimes.com/1991/06/26/world/2-yugoslav-states-vote-independence-to-press-demands.html |archive-date=10 November 2012 |url-status=live}}
*{{cite news |ref={{harvid|The New York Times|29 June 1991}} |newspaper=The New York Times |url=https://www.nytimes.com/1991/06/29/world/conflict-in-yugoslavia-2-yugoslav-states-agree-to-suspend-secession-process.html |title=Conflict in Yugoslavia; 2 Yugoslav States Agree to Suspend Secession Process |first=Chuck |last=Sudetic |date=29 June 1991 |archive-date=14 June 2013 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130614212226/http://www.nytimes.com/1991/06/29/world/conflict-in-yugoslavia-2-yugoslav-states-agree-to-suspend-secession-process.html |url-status=live}}
*{{cite news |ref={{harvid|The New York Times|18 November 1991}} |newspaper=The New York Times |url=https://www.nytimes.com/1991/11/18/world/croats-concede-danube-town-s-loss.html |title=Croats Concede Danube Town's Loss |first=Chuck |last=Sudetic |date=18 November 1991 |archive-date=14 November 2013 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20131114143713/http://www.nytimes.com/1991/11/18/world/croats-concede-danube-town-s-loss.html |url-status=live}}
*{{cite news |ref={{harvid|The New York Times|3 January 1992}} |newspaper=The New York Times |url=https://www.nytimes.com/1992/01/03/world/yugoslav-factions-agree-to-un-plan-to-halt-civil-war.html |title=Yugoslav Factions Agree to U.N. Plan to Halt Civil War |first=Chuck |last=Sudetic |date=3 January 1992 |archive-date=14 June 2013 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130614212247/http://www.nytimes.com/1992/01/03/world/yugoslav-factions-agree-to-un-plan-to-halt-civil-war.html |url-status=live}}
*{{cite news |ref={{harvid|The New York Times|24 January 1993}} |newspaper=The New York Times |url=https://www.nytimes.com/1993/01/24/world/croats-battle-serbs-for-a-key-bridge-near-the-adriatic.html |title=Croats Battle Serbs for a Key Bridge Near the Adriatic |first=Chuck |last=Sudetic |date=24 January 1993 |archive-date=30 November 2013 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20131130135211/http://www.nytimes.com/1993/01/24/world/croats-battle-serbs-for-a-key-bridge-near-the-adriatic.html |url-status=live}}
*{{cite web |ref={{harvid|Vreme|10 August 2006}} |publisher=[[Vreme]] |language=sr |url=http://www.vreme.com/cms/view.php?id=461755 |title=Oluja, zločin i video kamera |trans-title=Storm, crime and a video camera |first=Filip |last=Švarm |date=10 August 2006 |archive-date=23 July 2007 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20070723151139/http://www.vreme.com/cms/view.php?id=461755 |url-status=live}}
*{{cite news |ref={{harvid|Večernji list|27 November 2012}} |newspaper=Večernji list |url=http://www.vecernji.hr/hrvatska/zbog-zlocina-tijekom-oluje-i-nakon-nje-osudjeno-2380-osoba-479955 |title=Zbog zločina tijekom Oluje i nakon nje osuđeno 2380 osoba |language=hr |trans-title=2380 persons convicted for crimes committed during the Storm and afterwards |first=Ivanka |last=Toma |date=27 November 2012 |archive-date=30 November 2013 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20131130123733/http://www.vecernji.hr/hrvatska/zbog-zlocina-tijekom-oluje-i-nakon-nje-osudjeno-2380-osoba-479955 |url-status=live}}
*{{cite news |ref={{harvid|The Guardian|16 November 2012}} |newspaper=The Guardian |url=https://www.theguardian.com/world/2012/nov/16/croatia-war-crime-analysis |title=Croatia's 'war crime' is no longer a crime after UN tribunal verdict |first=Ian |last=Traynor |date=16 November 2012 |archive-date=30 November 2013 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20131130124151/http://www.theguardian.com/world/2012/nov/16/croatia-war-crime-analysis |url-status=live}}
*{{cite news |ref={{harvid|Politika|4 August 2010}} |language=sr |agency=[[Tanjug]] |url=http://www.politika.rs/rubrike/Drustvo/U-Crkvi-svetog-Marka-sluzen-parastos-ubijenima-u-Oluji.sr.html |title=У Цркви светог Марка служен парастос убијенима у Олуји |trans-title=A dirge for killed in Storm held in St. Mark's Church |newspaper=[[Politika]] |date=4 August 2010 |archive-date=4 April 2012 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120404094544/http://www.politika.rs/rubrike/Drustvo/U-Crkvi-svetog-Marka-sluzen-parastos-ubijenima-u-Oluji.sr.html |url-status=live}}
*{{cite news |ref={{harvid|BBC News|3 February 2015}} |date=3 February 2015 |newspaper=BBC News |url=https://www.bbc.com/news/world-europe-31104973 |title=UN court dismisses Croatia and Serbia genocide claims |location=London, England}}
*{{cite news |ref={{harvid|ABC News|17 November 2012}} |publisher=[[ABC News (Australia)]] |url=http://www.abc.net.au/news/2012-11-16/un-war-crimes-court-frees-croatian-generals/4377178 |title=UN war crimes court frees Croatian generals |newspaper=ABC News |agency=[[Agence France-Presse]] |date=17 November 2012 |archive-date=30 November 2012 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20121130121740/http://www.abc.net.au/news/2012-11-16/un-war-crimes-court-frees-croatian-generals/4377178 |url-status=live}}
*{{cite news |ref={{harvid|Jutarnji list|9 December 2007}} |newspaper=[[Jutarnji list]] |url=http://www.jutarnji.hr/kresimir-cosic--amerikanci-nam-nisu-dali-da-branimo-bihac/234966/ |language=hr |first=Vlado |last=Vurušić |title=Krešimir Ćosić: Amerikanci nam nisu dali da branimo Bihać |trans-title=Krešimir Ćosić: Americans did not let us defend Bihać |date=9 December 2007 |archive-date=28 October 2010 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20101028092334/http://www.jutarnji.hr/kresimir-cosic--amerikanci-nam-nisu-dali-da-branimo-bihac/234966/ |url-status=dead}}
*{{cite news |ref={{harvid|The New York Times|13 October 2002}} |newspaper=The New York Times |url=https://www.nytimes.com/2002/10/13/business/america-s-for-profit-secret-army.html |title=America's For-Profit Secret Army |first=Leslie |last=Wayne |date=13 October 2002 |archive-date=13 October 2013 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20131013133237/http://www.nytimes.com/2002/10/13/business/america-s-for-profit-secret-army.html |url-status=live}}
*{{cite news |ref={{harvid|Los Angeles Times|29 January 1992}} |url=https://www.latimes.com/archives/la-xpm-1992-01-29-mn-906-story.html |title=Roadblock Stalls U.N.'s Yugoslavia Deployment |newspaper=[[Los Angeles Times]] |first=Carol J. |last=Williams |date=29 January 1992 |archive-date=4 November 2012 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20121104093649/http://articles.latimes.com/1992-01-29/news/mn-906_1_deployment-plan |url-status=live}}
*{{cite journal |ref={{harvid|B92|20 November 2012}} |journal=B92 |url=https://www.b92.net/eng/news/politics.php?yyyy=2012&mm=11&dd=20&nav_id=83250 |year=2012 |title=Ex-chief prosecutor denounces Hague ruling |access-date=14 November 2018}}
{{refend}}

;International, governmental, and NGO sources
{{Refbegin|2}}
*{{cite web |ref={{harvid|Department of State|8 April 2011}} |publisher=[[United States Department of State]] |url=https://2009-2017.state.gov/j/drl/rls/hrrpt/2010/eur/154418.htm |title=2010 Human Rights Report: Croatia |date=8 April 2011}}
*{{cite web |ref={{harvid|UNHCR|2013}} |url=http://www.unhcr.org/pages/49e48d7d6.html |title=2013 Regional Operations Profile – South-Eastern Europe |publisher=[[United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees]] |archive-date=30 October 2013 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20131030001058/http://www.unhcr.org/pages/49e48d7d6.html |url-status=live}}
*{{cite web |ref={{harvid|ICTY|16 November 2012}} |publisher=[[International Criminal Tribunal for the former Yugoslavia]] |title=Appeals Judgement Summary for Ante Gotovina and Mladen Markač |url=http://www.icty.org/x/cases/gotovina/acjug/en/121116_summary.pdf |date=16 November 2012}}
*{{cite web |ref={{harvid|ICTY|November 2012}} |publisher=[[International Criminal Tribunal for the former Yugoslavia]] |title=Appeals Judgement for Ante Gotovina and Mladen Markač |url=http://www.icty.org/x/cases/gotovina/acjug/en/121116_judgement.pdf |date=16 November 2012}}
*{{cite book |ref={{harvid|HRW 18-7|2006}} |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=7pW6swTFuGoC |title=Croatia, a Decade of Disappointment: Continuing Obstacles to the Reintegration of Serb Returnees |publisher=[[Human Rights Watch]] |year=2006}}
*{{cite web |ref={{harvid|Department of State|31 January 1994}} |url=http://www.hri.org/docs/USSD-Rights/93/Croatia93.html |title=Croatia human rights practices, 1993; Section 2, part d |publisher=United States Department of State |date=31 January 1994 |archive-date=5 November 2013 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20131105051829/http://www.hri.org/docs/USSD-Rights/93/Croatia93.html |url-status=live}}
*{{cite web |ref={{harvid|HRW|1996}} |url=https://www.hrw.org/reports/pdfs/c/croatia/croatia968.pdf |title=Croatia: Impunity for abuses committed during "Operation Storm" and the denial of the right of refugees to return to the Krajina |publisher=[[Human Rights Watch]] |date=August 1996}}
*{{cite web |ref={{harvid|Office of the President}} |publisher=[[Office of the President of Croatia]] |url=http://www.predsjednik.hr/VlakSlobode |language=hr |title=Govori Predsjednika Tuđmana u Vlaku slobode |trans-title=Speeches of the President Tuđman in the Freedom Train |archive-date=30 November 2013 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20131130140217/http://www.predsjednik.hr/VlakSlobode |url-status=dead}}
*{{cite web |ref={{harvid|HRW|1 January 1999}} |url=http://www.refworld.org/cgi-bin/texis/vtx/rwmain?page=country&category=&publisher=HRW&type=&coi=HRV&rid=&docid=3ae6a8b724&skip=0 |publisher=[[Human Rights Watch]] |title=Human Rights Watch World Report 1999 – Croatia |date=1 January 1999 |archive-date=30 November 2013 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20131130123928/http://www.refworld.org/cgi-bin/texis/vtx/rwmain?page=country&category=&publisher=HRW&type=&coi=HRV&rid=&docid=3ae6a8b724&skip=0 |url-status=live}}
*{{cite journal |ref={{harvid|Narodne novine|7 July 1998}} |journal=[[Narodne novine]] |url=http://narodne-novine.nn.hr/clanci/sluzbeni/1998_07_92_1248.html |date=7 July 1998 |language=hr |title=Izviješće Vlade Republike Hrvatske o dosadašnjem tijeku povratka i zbrinjavanju prognanika, izbjeglica i raseljenih osoba |trans-title=Report of the Government of the Republic of Croatia on progress of return of and care for refugees and displaced persons}}
*{{cite web |ref={{harvid|ICTY|15 April 2011 (a)}} |url=http://www.icty.org/x/cases/gotovina/tjug/en/110415_summary.pdf |publisher=International Criminal Tribunal for the former Yugoslavia |title=Judgement Summary for Gotovina et al. |date=15 April 2011}}
*{{cite web |ref={{harvid|NATO|4 July 1997}} |url=http://www.nato.int/docu/comm/1997/970708/infopres/e-bpfy.htm |title=NATO's Role in Bringing Peace to the Former Yugoslavia |date=4 July 1997 |publisher=[[NATO]] |archive-date=14 November 2008 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20081114182106/http://www.nato.int/docu/comm/1997/970708/infopres/e-bpfy.htm |url-status=live}}
*{{cite journal |ref={{harvid|Narodne novine|8 October 1991}} |url=http://narodne-novine.nn.hr/clanci/sluzbeni/1991_10_53_1265.html |journal=[[Narodne novine]] |issue=53 |issn=1333-9273 |language=hr |title=Odluka |trans-title=Decision |date=8 October 1991}}
*{{cite web |ref={{harvid|Narodne novine|7 August 1995}} |publisher=Government of Croatia |url=http://digured.hr/cadial/searchdoc.php?query=&lang=hr&bid=TyJuvw9k0ErWujUZ%2B3qO0g%3D%3D |language=hr |title=Odluka o ustanovljenju medalja za sudjelovanje u vojno-redarstvenim operacijama i u iznimnim pothvatima (NN 060/1995) |trans-title=Decision on establishment of medals commemorating partaking of military-policing operations and exceptional efforts (OG 060/1995) |date=7 August 1995 |archive-url=https://archive.today/20130217155914/http://cadial.hidra.hr/searchdoc.php?query=&lang=hr&bid=TyJuvw9k0ErWujUZ%2B3qO0g%3D%3D |archive-date=17 February 2013}}
*{{cite web |ref=Transcript Mrksic |title=ICTY Transcript 090619ED |url=http://www.icty.org/x/cases/gotovina/trans/en/090619ED.htm |date=19 June 2009 |access-date=29 August 2019 |publisher=International Criminal Tribunal for the former Yugoslavia}}
*{{cite web |ref=Trial Brief |url=http://www.icty.org/x/cases/gotovina/custom5/en/100727.pdf |title=Gotovina Defence Final Trial Brief |publisher=International Criminal Tribunal for the former Yugoslavia |date=27 July 2010 |access-date=27 July 2010}}
*{{cite web |ref={{harvid|ICTY|15 April 2011 (b)}} |publisher=International Criminal Tribunal for the former Yugoslavia |url=http://www.icty.org/x/cases/gotovina/tjug/en/110415_judgement_vol1.pdf |title=Prosecutor v. Ante Gotovina, Ivan Čermak, Mladen Markač – Judgement volume I of II |date=15 April 2011}}
*{{cite web |ref={{harvid|UNSC|23 August 1995}} |url=https://www.un.org/ga/search/view_doc.asp?symbol=S/1995/730 |date=23 August 1995 |publisher=[[United Nations Security Council]] |title=Report of the Secretary-General Submitted Pursuant to Security Council Resolution 1009 (1995)}}
*{{cite web |ref={{harvid|ECOSOC|17 November 1993}} |url=http://www.unhchr.ch/Huridocda/Huridoca.nsf/2848af408d01ec0ac1256609004e770b/3e70ccf5ab7cd9c9802566710056e56f?OpenDocument#CONTENTS |title=Situation of human rights in the territory of the former Yugoslavia |publisher=[[United Nations Economic and Social Council]] |date=17 November 1993 |archive-date=12 June 2012 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120612051948/http://www.unhchr.ch/Huridocda/Huridoca.nsf/2848af408d01ec0ac1256609004e770b/3e70ccf5ab7cd9c9802566710056e56f?OpenDocument |url-status=live}}
*{{cite web |ref={{harvid|ICTY|21 May 2001}} |publisher=International Criminal Tribunal for the former Yugoslavia |url=http://www.icty.org/x/cases/gotovina/ind/en/got-ii010608e.htm |title=The prosecutor of the Tribunal against Ante Gotovina |date=21 May 2001 |archive-date=19 September 2012 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120919143519/http://www.icty.org/x/cases/gotovina/ind/en/got-ii010608e.htm |url-status=live}}
*{{cite web |ref={{harvid|ICTY|17 May 2007}} |publisher=International Criminal Tribunal for the former Yugoslavia |url=http://www.icty.org/x/cases/gotovina/ind/en/got-amdjoind070517e.pdf |title=The prosecutor of the Tribunal v. Ante Gotovina, Ivan Čermak, Mladen Markač – Amended jointer indictment |date=17 May 2007}}
*{{cite web |ref={{harvid|ICTY|12 June 2007}} |title=The Prosecutor vs. Milan Martic – Judgement |url=http://www.icty.org/x/cases/martic/tjug/en/070612.pdf |publisher=International Criminal Tribunal for the former Yugoslavia |date=12 June 2007}}
*{{cite web |ref={{harvid|UNCRO}} |publisher=[[United Nations]] |url=https://www.un.org/en/peacekeeping/missions/past/uncro.htm |title=United Nations Confidence Restoration Operation |archive-date=14 April 2013 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130414223657/https://www.un.org/en/peacekeeping/missions/past/uncro.htm |url-status=live}}
*{{cite web |ref={{harvid|UNHCR|20 June 2001}} |publisher=United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees |url=http://www.refworld.org/cgi-bin/texis/vtx/rwmain?page=country&category=&publisher=USCRI&type=&coi=HRV&rid=&docid=3b31e1601c&skip=0 |title=U.S. Committee for Refugees World Refugee Survey 2001 – Croatia |date=20 June 2001 |archive-date=30 November 2013 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20131130123447/http://www.refworld.org/cgi-bin/texis/vtx/rwmain?page=country&category=&publisher=USCRI&type=&coi=HRV&rid=&docid=3b31e1601c&skip=0 |url-status=live}}
*{{cite journal |ref={{harvid|Narodne novine|27 September 1996}} |journal=[[Narodne novine]] |url=http://narodne-novine.nn.hr/clanci/sluzbeni/265079.html |language=hr |title=Zakon o općem oprostu |trans-title=General Amnesty Act |issue=80 |date=27 September 1996}}
*{{cite web |ref={{harvid|ICJ|3 February 2015}} |title=Application of the Convention on the Prevention and Punishment of the Crime of Genocide (Croatia v. Serbia) |url=http://www.icj-cij.org/docket/files/118/18422.pdf |publisher=[[International Court of Justice]] |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160304000533/http://www.icj-cij.org/docket/files/118/18422.pdf |location=The Hague |archive-date=4 March 2016}}
*{{cite web |ref={{harvid|Amnesty|1 January 2017}} |title=Amnesty International report 2016/2017 |url=https://www.amnesty.nl/content/uploads/2017/02/POL1048002017ENGLISH.pdf?x93624 |publisher=[[Amnesty International]] |date=1 January 2017}}
*{{cite journal |last=Borda |first=A.Z. |journal=Tilburg Law Review |volume=211 |issue=Spring |year=2013 |title=The Use of Precedent as Subsidiary Means and Sources of International Criminal Law |pages=65–82 |doi=10.1163/22112596-01802002 |doi-access=free}}
*{{cite journal |journal=Military Law Review |url=https://www.loc.gov/rr/frd/Military_Law/Military_Law_Review/pdf-files/211-spring-2012.pdf |volume=211 |issue=Spring |year=2012 |title=Margin of error: Potential pitfalls of the ruling in the Prosecutor v. Ante Gotovina |first=Walter B. |last=Huffman |pages=1–56 |issn=0026-4040 |publisher=[[The Judge Advocate General's Legal Center and School]] |access-date=13 January 2013}}
*{{cite journal |journal=Cambridge International Law Journal |url=http://cilj.co.uk/2012/11/19/the-icty-appeals-judgement-in-prosecutor-v-gotovina-and-markac-scratching-below-the-surface-2/ |year=2012 |title=The ICTY Appeals Judgement in Prosecutor v Gotovina and Markač: Scratching below the Surface |first=Henri |last=Decoeur |access-date=5 August 2018}}
*{{cite journal |ref={{sfnRef|The Direct and Indirect Approaches to Precedent in International Criminal Courts and Tribunals|2014}} |journal=Melbourne Journal of International Law |url=https://arro.anglia.ac.uk/306869/1/Zammit%20Borda%20-%20The%20Use%20of%20Precedent.pdf |volume=14 |year=2014 |title=The Direct and Indirect Approaches to Precedent in International Criminal Courts and Tribunals |author=A.Z. Borda |pages=608–642 |access-date=5 August 2018 |archive-date=23 July 2018 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180723112302/https://arro.anglia.ac.uk/306869/1/Zammit%20Borda%20-%20The%20Use%20of%20Precedent.pdf |url-status=dead}}
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*{{cite journal |last=Mirkovic |first=Damir |year=2000 |title=The historical link between the Ustasha genocide and the Croato-Serb civil war: 1991–1995 |journal=Journal of Genocide Research |volume=2 |issue=3 |pages=363–373 |doi=10.1080/713677614 |s2cid=72467680}}
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{{refend}}

==External links==
{{Commons category|Operation Storm}}
* [http://www.hrt.hr/index.php?id=vijesti-clanak&tx_ttnews%5Btt_news%5D=125351&cHash=1e37d52e30 An analysis of Operation Storm and TV footage of the operation], [[Croatian Radiotelevision]], 5 August 2011 {{in lang|hr}}
* [https://snv.hr/oluja-u-haagu/media/sg1/sg1-04-vojna-operacija-oluja-en.pdf Military Operation Storm and Its Aftermath] [[Croatian Helsinki Committee|Croatian Helsinki Committee for Human Rights]], Zagreb 2001.
*{{cite news |last1=Vladisavljevic |first1=Anja |title=While Croats Celebrate August 1995, Serbs Look Back in Sorrow |url=https://balkaninsight.com/2020/08/05/while-croats-celebrate-august-1995-serbs-look-back-in-sorrow/ |access-date=5 August 2020 |work=[[Balkan Insight]] |date=5 August 2020}}
{{Bosnian War}}
{{Croatian War of Independence}}
{{Wars and battles involving Croatia}}
{{Wars and battles involving Serbs}}
{{Yugoslav wars}}
{{Serbian minority institutions and organizations in Croatia}}

{{Coord|44.04|16.20|display=title}}

{{Authority control}}

{{DEFAULTSORT:Storm, Operation}}
[[Category:Conflicts in 1995]]
[[Category:Military operations of the Croatian War of Independence]]
[[Category:Croatian war crimes in the Croatian War of Independence]]
[[Category:1995 in Croatia]]
[[Category:Military operations of the Bosnian War]]
[[Category:1995 in Bosnia and Herzegovina]]
[[Category:August 1995 in Europe]]
[[Category:Ethnic cleansing in the Yugoslav Wars]]
[[Category:Military campaigns involving Croatia]]