Operation Sky Monitor

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Operation Sky Monitor
Part of the NATO intervention in Bosnia
Boeing E-3A Sentry, NATO - Airborne Early Warning Force JP7067257.jpg
A NATO E-3 Sentry, the aircraft type used for monitoring in Operation Sky Monitor
ObjectiveMonitoring of no-fly zone over Bosnia
DateOctober 16, 1992 – April 12, 1993
Executed by Allied Forces Southern Europe

Operation Sky Monitor was a NATO mission to monitor unauthorized flights in the airspace of Bosnia and Herzegovina during the Bosnian War. The operation began in response to United Nations Security Council Resolution 781, which established a ban on the use of military aircraft in Bosnian airspace, and requested the aid of member states in monitoring compliance. Beginning on October 16, 1992, NATO monitored violations of the no-fly zone using E-3 Sentry NAEW aircraft based in Germany, Italy, Greece, and the United Kingdom. The operation documented more than 500 violations of the no-fly zone by April 1993. [1] In response to this high volume of unauthorized flights, the Security Council passed Resolution 816, which authorized NATO to enforce the no-fly zone, and engage violators. In response, NATO deactivated Sky Monitor on April 12, 1993, transferring its forces to the newly established Operation Deny Flight.

Contents

Background

On September 25, 1991, at the beginning of the Yugoslav wars, the United Nations Security Council issued Resolution 713, which established "a general and complete embargo on all deliveries of weapons and military equipment to Yugoslavia", with the goal of reducing violence and bloodshed throughout the country. [2] In May, the Security Council reaffirmed the embargo in Resolution 757, and added a provision for a naval force to monitor compliance with the embargo. In resolution 757, the council also called on states to "deny permission to any aircraft to take off, land in or overfly their territory if it is destined to land in or had taken off from the territory of the Federal Republic of Yugoslavia", setting the precedent for later anti-air measures. [3]

In response to resolution 757, NATO began to perform its first operations on behalf of the United Nations on July 16, 1992, with Operation Maritime Monitor, which monitored violations of Security Council Resolutions by ships. As a part of Maritime Monitor, NATO dispatched E-3 Sentry airborne early warning aircraft to the region to monitor sea traffic. These aircraft flew more than 200 missions over the course of the operation. [4]

On October 9, 1992, the Security Council passed resolution 781. In the resolution, the Security Council expressed concern about the use of aircraft by the belligerents in the War in Bosnia and established a formal "ban on military flights in the airspace of Bosnia and Herzegovina". It also called upon member states to help the United Nations Protection Force (UNPROFOR) in monitoring "compliance with the ban on military flights". [5] Shortly thereafter, on October 15, NATO aircraft operating under Maritime Monitor began monitoring flights over Bosnia for the UN. The essential goal of this mission was to conduct surveillance in order to determine whether or not the various parties in the conflict were respecting the UN no-fly zone. The next day, October 16, Operation Sky Monitor officially began when NATO planes expanded their monitoring with flight paths over the Adriatic. [6]

Operation

During Operation Sky Monitor, aircraft operated in two "orbits", one over the Adriatic established on October 16, and a second one over Hungary, established with the permission of the Hungarian government on October 31. [6] Both of these orbits operated 24 hours a day, providing constant surveillance of Bosnian airspace. [7] The first flight over Hungary on October 31 was an important milestone in NATO history as it was the "first operational mission in a former Warsaw Pact nation" for the alliance. [8] Even more significantly, Hungary agreed that if a NATO aircraft were attacked in its airspace, the Hungarian Air Force would provide support with Mikoyan-Gurevich MiG-21 fighters. [7] This support never became necessary, but it marked another important milestone, actual military cooperation between NATO and the former Warsaw Pact. [9]

The monitoring aircraft of Sky Monitor were initially drawn from the NATO Airborne Early Warning squadron based at NATO Air Base Geilenkirchen in Germany, but Aviano Air Base in Italy, Preveza in Greece, and Trapani in Italy were all used as forward operating bases. As the operation expanded, the British No. 8 Squadron RAF and the French E-3F squadron at Avord Air Base were also used. [10] All of these NATO forces fell under the authority of Allied Forces Southern Europe, commanded by Admiral Jeremy Boorda of the United States Navy. [11] Eleven NATO countries provided personnel or aircraft for the operation: Belgium, Canada, Denmark, Germany, Greece, Italy, the Netherlands, Norway, Portugal, Turkey, and the United States. [12]

The rules of engagement for Sky Monitor were very restrictive. Because the purpose of the operation was to monitor, rather than prevent, unauthorized flights, participating aircraft were only authorized to use force in self-defense. Furthermore, under the rules of engagement, NATO forces were directed to take evasive action if attacked rather than engage an opponent if at all possible. As a result of the strict rules of engagement, no NATO forces were engaged in combat during Operation Sky Monitor. [13]

Sky Monitor documented many violations of the no-fly zone, the most significant of which came in March 1993, when Serb aircraft bombed two Muslim villages. This violation, the first "combat violation" of the no-fly zone, led to calls for NATO to actively enforce the zone, rather than just monitoring compliance. [14]

Results

At the beginning of April 1993, NATO had documented more than 500 violations of the no-fly zone over Bosnia, including violations from all sides in the conflict. [1] Out of these numerous violations, however, NATO documented only one that it considered a "combat mission". [15] Although most of the violations were not combat missions, NATO had decided even before the end of Sky Monitor that the UN ban was ineffective. On December 18, 1992, the NATO members voted to enforce the no-fly zone with military force if requested by the United Nations. [16] This escalation of NATO involvement also gained the crucial backing of US President-elect Bill Clinton in December, when he told the press that he had "been in favor of enforcing the no-fly zone for some time." [17]

A US Air Force F-15C takes off on a sortie to enforce the no-fly zone during Operation Deny Flight Deny Flight F-15.jpg
A US Air Force F-15C takes off on a sortie to enforce the no-fly zone during Operation Deny Flight

The UN called for NATO to use force in response to the "blatant violations of the ban on military flights in the airspace of Bosnia and Herzegovina" with Security Council Resolution 816 on March 31, 1993. The resolution authorized UN member states to "take all necessary measures" in order "to ensure compliance" with the no-fly zone. [18] As a result of this new resolution, NATO deactivated Sky Monitor, and began Operation Deny Flight on April 12, 1993. Under Deny Flight, NATO forces continued to monitor and document unauthorized flights, but they were also authorized to enforce the zone and engage violators if necessary. [19]

Operation Sky Monitor was the first of many NATO air operations in the Balkans, including the more significant Operation Deliberate Force and Operation Allied Force. Sky Monitor was also NATO's first out of area air operation, and one of its first collaborative missions with the United Nations. Thus, it set the precedent for future NATO-UN cooperation, based on a model where NATO forces would use their superior technical expertise to assist the UN in pursuing its broader mission. [20] Sky Monitor also affected military policy, as it proved the utility of the E-3 Sentry, NATO's principal aircraft in the operation, for monitoring missions under a wide variety of circumstances. Thus, the E-3 became an important part of NATO's planning for later operations. [8]

Related Research Articles

Stabilisation Force in Bosnia and Herzegovina Former peacekeeping force of the NATO

The Stabilisation Force in Bosnia and Herzegovina (SFOR) was a NATO-led multinational peacekeeping force deployed to Bosnia and Herzegovina after the Bosnian war. Although SFOR was led by NATO, several non-NATO countries contributed troops. It was replaced by EUFOR Althea in December 2004.

No-fly zone Area established by a military power over which certain aircraft are not permitted to fly

A no-fly zone, also known as a no-flight zone (NFZ), or air exclusion zone (AEZ), is a territory or area established by a military power over which certain aircraft are not permitted to fly. Such zones are usually set up in an enemy power's territory during a conflict, similar in concept to an aerial demilitarized zone, and usually intend to prohibit the enemy's military aircraft from operating in the region. Military action is employed by the enforcing state and, depending on the terms of the NFZ, may include preemptive attacks to prevent potential violations, reactive force targeted at violating aircraft, or surveillance with no use of force. Air exclusion zones and anti-aircraft defences are sometimes set up in a civilian context, for example to protect sensitive locations, or events such as the 2012 London Olympic Games, against terrorist air attack.

This is a list of aviation-related events from 1992:

This is a list of aviation-related events from 1993:

United Nations Protection Force Military unit

The United Nations Protection Force was the first United Nations peacekeeping force in Croatia and in Bosnia and Herzegovina during the Yugoslav Wars. The force was formed in February 1992 and its mandate ended in March 1995, with the peacekeeping mission restructuring into three other forces.

Operation Deliberate Force 1995 campaign by NATO and UN forces against Republika Srpska during the Bosnian War

Operation Deliberate Force was a sustained air campaign conducted by the North Atlantic Treaty Organisation (NATO), in concert with the United Nations Protection Force (UNPROFOR) ground operations, to undermine the military capability of the Army of Republika Srpska (VRS), which had threatened and attacked UN-designated "safe areas" in Bosnia and Herzegovina during the Bosnian War with the Srebrenica genocide and Markale massacres, precipitating the intervention. The shelling of the Sarajevo marketplace on 28 August 1995 by the VRS is considered to be the immediate instigating factor behind NATO's decision to launch the operation.

Operation Deny Flight 1993–1995 NATO operation in Bosnia and Herzegovina

Operation Deny Flight was a North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO) operation that began on 12 April 1993 as the enforcement of a United Nations (UN) no-fly zone over Bosnia and Herzegovina. The United Nations and NATO later expanded the mission of the operation to include providing close air support for UN troops in Bosnia and carrying out coercive air strikes against targets in Bosnia. Twelve NATO members contributed forces to the operation and, by its end on 20 December 1995, NATO pilots had flown 100,420 sorties.

NATO intervention in Bosnia and Herzegovina NATO operations in Bosnia and Herzegovina between 1992–2004

The NATO intervention in Bosnia and Herzegovina was a series of actions undertaken by NATO whose stated aim was to establish long-term peace during and after the Bosnian War. NATO's intervention began as largely political and symbolic, but gradually expanded to include large-scale air operations and the deployment of approximately 60,000 soldiers under Operation Joint Endeavor.

United Nations Security Council Resolution 781 October 1992 resolution establishing a no-fly zone in Bosnia and Herzegovina

United Nations Security Council resolution 781, adopted on 9 October 1992, after reaffirming Resolution 713 (1991) and all subsequent resolutions on the situation in the former Yugoslavia, the Council decided to impose a ban on military flights in the airspace over Bosnia and Herzegovina, acting in accordance with the provisions set out in Resolution 770 (1992).

United Nations Security Council Resolution 786 November 1992 resolution increasing UNPROFOR monitoring of a no-fly zone in Bosnia and Herzegovina

United Nations Security Council resolution 786, adopted unanimously on 10 November 1992, after reaffirming Resolution 781 (1992), the Council approved a recommendation by the Secretary-General Boutros Boutros-Ghali to increase the strength of the United Nations Protection Force (UNPROFOR) in Bosnia and Herzegovina by 75 observers to monitor the ban on military flights over the country.

United Nations Security Council Resolution 787

United Nations Security Council resolution 787, adopted on 16 November 1992, after reaffirming Resolution 713 (1991) and all subsequent resolutions on the topic, the council called upon the parties in Bosnia and Herzegovina to consider the draft outline constitution as a basis for negotiating a political settlement of the conflict in the country, and went on to impose further international sanctions on the Federal Republic of Yugoslavia.

United Nations Security Council Resolution 816 March 1993 resolution extending and allowing UNPROFOR enforcement of a no-fly zone in Bosnia and Herzegovina

United Nations Security Council resolution 816, adopted on 31 March 1993, after reaffirming resolutions 781 (1992), 786 (1992) concerning a ban on military flights over Bosnia and Herzegovina and recognising the current situation in the region, the council, acting under Chapter VII of the United Nations Charter, extended the ban to cover flights by all fixed-wing and rotary-wing aircraft over the country, and to use all measures necessary to ensure compliance with the ban.

United Nations Security Council Resolution 1174

United Nations Security Council resolution 1174, adopted unanimously on 15 June 1998, after recalling resolutions 1031 (1995), 1035 (1995), 1088 (1996), 1103 (1997), 1107 (1997), 1144 (1997) and 1168 (1998), the Council extended the mandate of the United Nations Mission in Bosnia and Herzegovina (UNMIBH) for a period terminating on 21 June 1999 and authorised states participating in the NATO led Stabilisation Force (SFOR) to continue to do so for a further twelve months.

United Nations Security Council Resolution 1357

United Nations Security Council resolution 1357, adopted unanimously on 21 June 2001, after recalling resolutions 1031 (1995), 1035 (1995), 1088 (1996), 1103 (1997), 1107 (1997), 1144 (1997), 1168 (1998), 1174 (1998), 1184 (1998), 1247 (1999) and 1305 (2000), the council extended the mandate of the United Nations Mission in Bosnia and Herzegovina (UNMIBH) for a period until 21 June 2002 and authorised states participating in the NATO-led Stabilisation Force (SFOR) to continue to do so for a further twelve months.

United Nations Security Council Resolution 1423

United Nations Security Council resolution 1423, adopted unanimously on 12 July 2002, after recalling resolutions 1031 (1995), 1035 (1995), 1088 (1996), 1103 (1997), 1107 (1997), 1144 (1997), 1168 (1998), 1174 (1998), 1184 (1998), 1247 (1999), 1305 (2000), 1357 (2001) and 1396 (2002), the Council extended the mandate of the United Nations Mission in Bosnia and Herzegovina (UNMIBH) for a period until on 31 December 2002 and authorised states participating in the NATO-led Stabilisation Force (SFOR) to continue to do so for a further twelve months.

2011 military intervention in Libya NATO-led air and naval attacks during the civil war

On 19 March 2011, a multi-state NATO-led coalition began a military intervention in Libya, to implement United Nations Security Council Resolution 1973, in response to events during the First Libyan Civil War. With ten votes in favour and five abstentions, the UN Security Council's intent was to have "an immediate ceasefire in Libya, including an end to the current attacks against civilians, which it said might constitute “crimes against humanity” … [imposing] a ban on all flights in the country's airspace — a no-fly zone — and tightened sanctions on the [Muammar] Qadhafi regime and its supporters."

United Nations Security Council Resolution 1973 2011 resolution against Libya during the civil war

Resolution 1973 was adopted by the United Nations Security Council on 17 March 2011 in response to the First Libyan Civil War. The Security Council resolution was proposed by France, Lebanon, and the United Kingdom.

The international reactions to the 2011 military intervention in Libya were the responses to the military intervention in Libya by NATO and allied forces to impose a no-fly zone. The intervention was authorized by United Nations Security Council Resolution 1973, approved in New York on 17 March, in response to the Libyan Civil War, though some governments allege participants in the operation exceeded their mandate.

United Nations Security Council Resolution 1639

United Nations Security Council resolution 1639, adopted unanimously on 21 November 2005, after recalling previous resolutions on the conflicts in the former Yugoslavia, including resolutions 1031 (1995), 1088 (1996), 1423 (2002), 1491 (2003), 1551 (2004) and 1575 (2004), the Council extended the mandate of EUFOR Althea in Bosnia and Herzegovina as a legal successor to the Stabilisation Force (SFOR) for a further twelve months.

References

  1. 1 2 Beale, Michael (1997). Bombs over Bosnia: The Role of Airpower in Bosnia-Herzegovina. Air University Press. p. 19.
  2. ↑ "Resolution 713". United Nations Security Council Resolutions. Retrieved 2009-06-11.
  3. ↑ "Resolution 757". United Nations Security Council Resolutions. Retrieved 2009-06-11.
  4. ↑ "Operation Maritime Monitor". GlobalSecurity.org. Retrieved 2009-06-11.
  5. ↑ "Resolution 781" (PDF). United Nations Security Council Resolutions. Retrieved 2009-06-11.
  6. 1 2 Allied Joint Force Command Naples. "JFC Naples/AFSOUTH, 1951-2009: OVER FIFTY YEARS WORKING FOR PEACE AND STABILITY". Archived from the original on 2011-09-27. Retrieved 2009-06-11.
  7. 1 2 "No 8 Squadron Comes Home". Archived from the original on 2008-05-13. Retrieved 2009-06-11.
  8. 1 2 Voellger, Gary (January 1999). "NATO airborne early warning force Balkan operations". NATO's Nations and Partners for Peace (2): 28–32.
  9. ↑ "Hungary Assists NATO Monitoring in Bosnia". Jane's Defence International. March 1993.
  10. ↑ "Details/Information for Canadian Forces (CF) Operation SKY MONITOR". National Defence and Canadian Forces. 9 November 2004. Retrieved 2009-06-13.
  11. ↑ Miller, Kurt. "Deny Flight and Deliberate Force: An Effective Use of Airpower". US Army Command and General Staff College. Archived from the original on October 29, 2004.
  12. ↑ Larson, Eric (2003). Interoperability of U.S. and NATO Allied Air Forces: Supporting Data and Case Studies. RAND.
  13. ↑ Reed, Ronald (2000). "Chariots of Fire: Rules of Engagement in Operation Deliberate Force" . In Robert Owen (ed.). Deliberate Force: A Case Study in Effective Air Campaigning. Air University Press. p.  396. ISBN   1-58566-076-0.
  14. ↑ Lewis, Paul (March 19, 1993). "U.N. Moving to Toughen Yugoslav Flight Ban". The New York Times.
  15. ↑ Riding, Alan (April 3, 1993). "NATO Agrees to Enforce Flight Ban Over Bosnia Ordered by U.N." The New York Times.
  16. ↑ Sciolono, Elaine (December 18, 1992). "CONFLICT IN THE BALKANS; NATO Offers Support". The New York Times.
  17. ↑ Sciolono, Elaine (December 12, 1992). "Clinton Urges Stronger U.S. Stand On Enforcing Bosnia Flight Ban". The New York Times.
  18. ↑ "Resolution 816" (PDF). United Nations Security Council Resolutions. UN Security Council. Retrieved 2009-02-17.
  19. ↑ Beale, Michael (1997). Bombs over Bosnia: The Role of Airpower in Bosnia-Herzegovina. Air University Press. p. 20.
  20. ↑ Baumann, Robert (2004). Armed Peacekeepers in Bosnia. Combat Studies Institute Press. p. 64. ISBN   1-4289-1020-4.
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