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How did Bosnian Serb forces surround Sarajevo during the siege?
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Bosnian War
Buildings and vehicles destroyed in Grbavica, a suburb of Sarajevo, Bosnia and Herzegovina, during the Bosnian conflict (1992–95).
Before the outbreak of conflict in April 1992, Bosnian Serb forces strategically prepared for the siege of Sarajevo by constructing reinforced artillery positions in the hills overlooking the city.1
Once the Bosnian War began, these forces occupied those high-ground positions and seized control of several city suburbs. By establishing this perimeter, they were able to impose a total blockade on the city, effectively cutting off essential supplies such as food, power, and water. Although the Bosnian Serb forces lacked the manpower to storm the city, their superior weaponry and elevated vantage points allowed them to maintain the siege by subjecting the population to constant artillery bombardment and sniper fire from the surrounding hills.1