Battle of Hrvatska Kostajnica

Battle of Hrvatska Kostajnica
Part of the Croatian War of Independence
Date17 July   14 September 1991
(−1 month and 3 days)
Location
Result SAO Krajina victory
Belligerents
Yugoslavia
SAO Krajina
Croatia
Commanders and leaders
Milan Martić
Branko Dmitrović
Dragan Vasiljković
Zvonimir Kalan 
Nedjeljko Podunajec 
Janko Bobetko
Units involved

Yugoslav People's Army

Krajina Militia
Kninjas

Croatian National Guard

Croatian Police

Strength
1,000–2,000 500–750
Casualties and losses
Unknown Many killed, many surrendered

The Battle of Hrvatska Kostajnica (Croatian: Bitka za Hrvatsku Kostajnicu) was a military engagement fought between the proclaimed Croatian-Serb Serbian Autonomous Oblast of Krajina (SAO Krajina) supported by the Yugoslav People’s Army (Jugoslavenska Narodna Armija) and local Territorial Defense based in Bosanska Kostajnica, against the Croatian National Guard (ZNG) and Croatian policemen. Fought between July 17th, and ending with the capture of Kostajnica on September 13th, the desired result was mainly to kill Croatian President Franjo Tuđman, whom was inspecting Croatian National Guard personnel in Hrvatska Kostajnica.

The Yugoslav People’s Army and SAO Krajina forces captured Hrvatska Kostajnica on 13th September, Croatian National Guard and Croatian Policemen attempted a breakout to Hrvatska Dubica, most of them were killed in the process. In the aftermath, the vicinity of Kostajnica had been captured and looted by SAO Krajina forces. Most of the defenders had been sent to the Manjača concentration camp and a prison camp in Glina. Hrvatska Kostajnica would later be captured by the Croatian Army during Operation Storm.