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The NATO Alliance warned Bosnian Serbs against operating ground attack jets in the UN-imposed no-fly zone. The ultimatum was ignored, and NATO shot down four Bosnian Serb jets. This was the first combat action ever taken by NATO in its 45-year history. .
In response to the worsening situation in Bosnia, the United Nations Security Council passed Resolution 816 on April 12, 1993, which imposed a no-fly zone over the country. The resolution prohibited all unauthorized military flights in the airspace of Bosnia-Herzegovina, with the primary goal of preventing aerial attacks against civilian populations and providing a safe environment for the delivery of humanitarian aid.
NATO was tasked with enforcing the no-fly zone, and the operation, known as Operation Deny Flight, began on April 12, 1993. The mission involved the deployment of NATO aircraft to monitor and patrol the airspace over Bosnia, as well as the potential use of force against any aircraft that violated the no-fly zone.
Despite the UN-imposed no-fly zone, Bosnian Serb forces continued to conduct military flights and carry out aerial attacks against their enemies. On February 28, 1994, NATO issued a stern warning to the Bosnian Serbs, demanding that they cease all unauthorized flights in the no-fly zone.
However, the Bosnian Serbs ignored the ultimatum, and on March 12, 1994, NATO aircraft detected six Bosnian Serb Soko G-4 Super Galeb ground attack jets violating the no-fly zone. In response, NATO fighters engaged the Bosnian Serb aircraft, shooting down four of the jets in the first combat action ever taken by NATO in its 45-year history.
The downing of the Bosnian Serb jets marked a significant turning point in NATO's role and the international community's approach to the conflict in Bosnia. The enforcement of the no-fly zone demonstrated NATO's willingness to use military force to uphold UN resolutions and protect vulnerable populations.
NATO's intervention also paved the way for further involvement in the conflict, culminating in the 1995 NATO bombing campaign against Bosnian Serb forces, which ultimately pressured the warring parties to negotiate a peace settlement. The 1995 Dayton Accords brought an end to the war and established a power-sharing arrangement between the ethnic groups in Bosnia-Herzegovina.