The attack on Srebrenica actually began on July 6, 1995, when Bosnian Serb forces under the command of General Ratko Mladić initiated their assault on the town. This marked the beginning of a series of events that culminated in the massacre of more than 7,000 Bosniak (Bosnian Muslim) boys and men in the days that followed. The town fell completely to Bosnian Serb forces on July 11, 1995.
The attack on Srebrenica in July 1995 was a tragic and horrific event during the Bosnian War, which took place in the context of the breakup of Yugoslavia. Bosnian Serb forces, led by General Ratko Mladić, overran the town of Srebrenica, which had been designated a “safe area” by the United Nations.
Despite being under the protection of Dutch peacekeepers serving as UN troops, the town was overrun by Bosnian Serb troops on July 11, 1995. In the days that followed, more than 7,000 Bosniak (Bosnian Muslim) boys and men were systematically killed. This massacre, known as the Srebrenica genocide, was later classified as an act of genocide by international courts.
The events at Srebrenica shocked the world and highlighted the inability of the international community to protect civilians during the Bosnian War. It remains one of the darkest chapters in recent European history and a stark reminder of the consequences of ethnic hatred and the failure of international peacekeeping efforts.