7th Muslim Brigade

475: 157: 133: 938:). A month later, the 3rd and 7th Corps had set the stage for a full-scale operation to liberate Mt. Vlašić, codenamed Operation "Domet-1". The reconnaissance-sabotage platoon, or IDV, of the 1st battalion encircled and captured the highest peak on the mountain, Opaljenik, as well as its radio relay station, simultaneously capturing a large quantity of armor and weapons. On April 4, 1995, the 1st battalion of the 7th Muslim brigade, together with elements of the General Staff's 120th light brigade "Black Swans" ( 675:, where they make initial gains but are soon thereafter halted by a 40-man intervention unit from the 7th brigade's 1st battalion. By June 5, 1993, HVO forces had largely been pushed out of Travnik proper, and had taken up position in the villages surrounding the city. In one such area, elements of the brigade's 1st battalion, along with other Travnik-based ARBiH units, launch an attack on fortified HVO positions in 896: 22: 829:), to head to Mt. Igman to defend it against the VRS offensive following the desertion of many ARBiH units which were previously stationed there. Over the course of July and August 1993, the 7th Muslim brigade fought to defend Mt. Igman, in which it was ultimately successful. As a result, brigade's 1st battalion received a special commemoration from RBiH President 648:, near Busovača, in January of 1993, which led to the ousting of the Croat forces from the settlement by members of the 7th Muslim brigade's 2nd battalion, following their initial occupation of the area. After a few months of escalation, tensions between the HVO and ARBiH fully erupted in mid-April of 1993, with clashes breaking out in the city of 699:. With this action, the 7th Muslim brigade had created a corridor between the cities of Zenica and Travnik, fully under the control of the Bosnian government. By June 9, 1993, Travnik and its surrounding area was fully cleared of HVO forces, who had either retreated to the Croat-held Vitez enclave or surrendered to VRS forces on Mt. Vlašić. 786: 985: 872:

battlefield, having notable success in their capture, and subsequent defence of, previously lost ARBiH positions on the stragetically crucial Hill 706, as well as the defence of Hill 715 and the capture of the strategic location 'Podmalovan'. On August 20, 1994, the Kakanj-based 1st battalion of the

619:

course led by foreign preachers prior to entering the unit, as well as numerous restrictions, such as bans on smoking, shaving, music, and more, vastly differentiating itself from all other ARBiH units, including the 7th Muslim brigade, in this way. It was also the case that war crimes committed by

601:

Though there was much speculation by foreign and enemy media, the 7th Muslim brigade never incorporated any sizable number of foreign fighters (referred to as 'Mujahideen' by foreign press) into its ranks. However, a handful of members of the 7th Muslim brigade left from 1993 onwards to go fight in

610:

Islamic practice. This detachment, unlike the 7th brigade, contained a large number of foreign volunteers from various nations, largely from the Middle East and North Africa, as well as a large number of religious fundamentalist Bosniaks from various parts of the country. The "El-Mudžahidin" unit,

341:; however, there were soldiers from all over Bosnia who served in its ranks. During the war, the brigade liberated over 1,100 km of territory, including multiple cities, as well as numerous villages and mountains. Some of the most notable combat actions of the 7th Muslim brigade include the 867:

In May 1994, parts of the brigade were tasked with holding the frontline on the Teslić-Šerić battlefield, north of Zenica, where they successfully repelled frequent VRS attempts to breach the contact line. In June and July 1994, elements of the 7th Muslim brigade participated in actions on the

777:

only two weeks prior, killing 37 civilians, many of whom were burned alive in their homes. In the early morning hours of November 4, 1993, following days of combat, forces of the 7th Muslim brigade entered Vareš from the west, linking up with members of the 2nd Corps' 206th mountain brigade

856:), attacking VRS forces along the Vlasenica front, capturing the key hilltops of Kočar and Tamburića Kosa. On May 3, units of the 7th Muslim brigade, along with the 1st Muslim Podrinje brigade and the detachment for special operations "Black Swans" ( 628:

The first combat action of the 7th Muslim brigade was the first attempt at breaking the siege of Sarajevo. In December of 1992, along with various other units from the 3rd and 6th Corps, the 7th brigade fought VRS forces on the key hilltop

416:) was officially formed on November 17, 1992, in Zenica. It was formed as an all-volunteer brigade composed of Bosniaks from various units in Travnik, Zenica, and Kakanj. On its date of formation, the brigade had three battalions: 493:) was formed, composed of volunteers from preexisting reconnaissance, sabotage and assault platoons from all battalions. The DIČ became the spearhead of the 7th Muslim brigade and was directly subordinated to the brigade command. 660:. In the days that followed, forces of the 7th Muslim brigade, with support from other 3rd Corps units, defeated the Jure Francetić brigade in Gornji Čajdraš, with its members either surrendering or fleeing to HVO forces in the 1939: 514:. On May 13, 1995, the General Staff presented the 7th Muslim brigade with the highest honorary title, "Viteška" (Knightly). The brigade was also renamed from a mountain brigade to a liberation brigade type "A" ( 782:) from the north. The fall of Vareš led to an exodus of Bosnian Croat soldiers and civilians from the town, as well as the liberation of 110 Bosniak civilians who were taking refuge in the town's UNPROFOR base. 581:

During the war, volunteers from all throughout Bosnia came to fight with the 7th Muslim brigade. Units which had a notable number of soldiers transfer into the 7th brigade include the 306th mountain brigade

474: 691:, which had up until that point been defended by local residents armed only with personal weapons. That same day, the brigade engaged in fierce combat with HVO forces in the fortified village of 930:. Prior to the operation, on February 24, 1995, members of the 737th Muslim light brigade (former 1st battalion of the 7th Muslim brigade), along with elements of the 712th mountain brigade ( 1070: 1044: 849: 497: 483: 318: 1016:), this operation was fully successful, leading to the capturing of Vozuća and the connecting of 2nd and 3rd Corps forces in Ozren, as well as the liquidation of the VRS 4th Ozren brigade ( 397: 652:. The 7th Muslim brigade, along with other local military and police formations, were tasked with clearing the Croat forces from the city. The HVO's Zenica-based Jure Francetić brigade ( 504:). Consequently, a new 1st battalion was formed, incorporating fighters from the "Martyr Resul" detachment and the general Kakanj area, largely pulling manpower from the 3rd battalion. 1145: 977:. Through a month of intense combat, the 7th succeeded in its goals of liberating the mountain and territory around Ilijaš; however, the operation as a whole was unsuccessful and the 510:

On April 14, 1994, by order of the General Staff of the ARBiH, the 7th Muslim brigade was awarded the honorary title "Slavna" (Celebrated), with the full name of the brigade being

637:. Although they captured the elevation, the overall operation was unsuccessful due to overwhelming VRS firepower, forcing them to eventually abandon their positions on Višegrad. 840:

In 1994, following the end of the ARBiH-HVO conflict, the 3rd Corps turned its attention back to the VRS. On April 27, 1994, units of the 7th Muslim brigade are sent to the

1333: 667:

The period of June and July, 1993, saw the 7th brigade fighting day in and day out against both Croat and Serb forces. On June 4, fierce fighting broke out in the city of

620:

this detachment were falsely and regularly attributed to the 7th Muslim brigade by local and foreign media, which was cleared up during ICTY trials in the post-war years.

527: 671:

between ARBiH and HVO forces. In an attempt to take advantage of the frenzy, VRS forces on Mt. Vlašić, which overlooked the city, launched an attack on the region of

981:

was not broken. Following these battles, the 7th was sent back to the Ozren front where it engaged in raids and incursions into VRS positions for the next 2 months.

1065: 766: 322: 172: 738:, where HVO forces found themselves under complete encirclement. On the following day, 15 June, the HVO Kotromanić brigade had surrendered to ARBiH forces in 718:

area, and began combat operations the following morning, on the 13th. The 7th Muslim brigade broke through the defensive lines of the HVO Kotromanić brigade (

396:

3,447 soldiers passed through the ranks of the brigade, and 236 were killed in action. 30 members were awarded the Bosnian Army's highest wartime award, the

1924: 1032:, managed to liberate over 50 km in the Ozren salient, a mere 4 days before the nationwide ceasefire took effect at midnight on October 11, 1995. 1020:). This would lead to further operations into late September and early October 1995 which would push VRS forces back on the Ozren front to near 535: 892:) on the so-called Teslić-Šerić front during the month-long offensive, taking control of the Podjezero basin among other strategic locations. 821:. The General Staff ordered the 1st battalion of the 7th Muslim brigade, along with the 1st assault battalion of the 312th mountain brigade ( 953:

From June–July, 1995, forces of the 7th Muslim brigade participated in the final attempt to break the siege of Sarajevo, named operation "

39: 162: 105: 934:, launched an infiltration operation on Mt. Vlašić's Galica plateau, liquidating 62 soldiers from the VRS' 22nd infantry brigade ( 790: 640:

Shortly afterwards, all-out conflict broke out between the ARBiH and HVO in Central Bosnia. One of the first battles against the

86: 907:

On January 28, 1995, the 7th Muslim Slavna mountain brigade held its 2nd anniversary in Zenica, which was attended by President

1146:"17. novembra 1992. godine osnovana Sedma muslimanska viteška oslobodilačka brigada: Jedan od bataljona Sedme bio je kakanjski" 747: 58: 679:, which proved to be successful and led to a large bounty of captured weapons and equipment. The 7th Muslim brigade liberated 992:

truck, parade through the Zenica city center with their battle flag following their success on the Vozuća battlefield during

869: 43: 518:), which denoted an assault/maneuver brigade. The 7th brigade's final full title, which it carried until the war's end, was 260: 132: 1334:"ZA BOŠNJAKE SLAVNA ZA DRUGE ZLOGLASNA SEDMA MUSLIMANSKA: Naredba je glasila "ako zapalite crkvu, odmah palite i džamiju!"" 611:

led by foreign volunteers from Arab and North African states, featured an extensive set of rules and restrictions based on

65: 500:

in Travnik, the 1st battalion of the 7th Muslim brigade was formed into its own brigade, the 737th Muslim light brigade (

252: 1925:

http://kakanj.com.ba/v4/17-novembra-2014-godine-22-godisnjica-osnivanja-sedme-muslimanske-viteske-oslobodilacke-brigade/

852:

area of operation. Here, the brigade partakes in combat operations with the local 1st Muslim-Podrinje mountain brigade (

1008:, the 3rd Corps offensive into Vozuća and the Ozren pocket commenced. Spearheaded by the 7th Muslim brigade and the " 1661:(1 ed.). United States: Central Intelligence Agency, Office of Russian and European Analysis. 2002. p. 208 1622:(1 ed.). United States: Central Intelligence Agency, Office of Russian and European Analysis. 2002. p. 205 1598:(1 ed.). United States: Central Intelligence Agency, Office of Russian and European Analysis. 2002. p. 202 1574:(1 ed.). United States: Central Intelligence Agency, Office of Russian and European Analysis. 2002. p. 196 1550:(1 ed.). United States: Central Intelligence Agency, Office of Russian and European Analysis. 2002. p. 196 1496:(1 ed.). United States: Central Intelligence Agency, Office of Russian and European Analysis. 2002. p. 196 1442:(1 ed.). United States: Central Intelligence Agency, Office of Russian and European Analysis. 2002. p. 195 1403:(1 ed.). United States: Central Intelligence Agency, Office of Russian and European Analysis. 2002. p. 192 1379:(1 ed.). United States: Central Intelligence Agency, Office of Russian and European Analysis. 2002. p. 192 72: 1304: 1275: 1246: 876:

From October 3, 1994, onward, the 7th Muslim brigade participated in an operation south of the Serb-held town of

873:

7th Muslim brigade repelled a reinforced VRS assault on the mountain Velike Karanovice, northeast of Mt. Vlašić.

256: 802: 641: 390: 362: 358: 54: 1012:" detachment, and supported by the 328th and 329th mountain brigades and the 3rd and 4th maneuver battalions ( 656:) was forced out of the city in only a few days, setting up defensive position to the west, in the village of 1811: 1786: 769:

hands. In early November 1993, the 7th Muslim brigade found itself waging battles around the small town of

268: 32: 1080: 1024:. During October 5-7th, 1995, soldiers of the 7th Muslim brigade, along with the 327th mountain brigade ( 919: 657: 444: 370: 264: 346: 244: 354: 1944: 908: 830: 378: 342: 248: 202: 888:), the 7th Muslim brigade managed to capture over 100 km from the VRS' 27th motorized brigade ( 137:

The patch of the 7th Muslim Brigade (as of 1995); worn on issued armbands, mostly for ceremonial use

1075: 1001: 993: 743: 735: 727: 386: 272: 774: 833:

following the battle, congratulating their efforts in saving Mt. Igman, and in turn keeping the

79: 325:. It served as the ARBiH's primary assault brigade in Central Bosnia, and was headquartered in 978: 957:". The 7th, along with other elite 3rd Corps formations, namely the 375th liberation brigade ( 818: 692: 507:

In April 1995, a 4th battalion was formed, made up largely of soldiers from the Lašva valley.

350: 240: 676: 435:) - headquartered in Zenica; formed from the 7th Muslim battalion of the 1st Zenica brigade ( 1036: 739: 731: 523: 310: 711: 696: 684: 680: 989: 834: 814: 753:

In early July 1993, the 7th Muslim brigade spearheaded an assault on the HVO-held city of

645: 607: 947: 927: 672: 538:(OSBiH), the 7th mechanized brigade is dissolved along with many other VFBiH formations. 912: 895: 710:

between ARBiH and HVO forces. On June 12, 1993, the 7th Muslim brigade relocated from

1933: 806: 541:

Near the end of the war, the 7th Muslim brigade's general structure looked as such:

1656: 1617: 1593: 1569: 1545: 1491: 1437: 1398: 1374: 1060: 1040: 21: 946:) liberated the Sports Recreation Center Babanovac, as well as Debela Jela and 765:). Following multiple days of battle, on July 3, 1993, the town was fully in 1658: