When the Bosnian Serb forces began their attack on Srebrenica, General Mladic knew that the UN forces numbered 450, that they were lightly armed, and that this was a crucial moment as they lacked air support.
The Army of the Republic of Bosnia and Herzegovina requested that the UN battalion commander returns them the weapons that were surrendered as part of the 1993 demilitarization agreements. The request was refused.
Dutch battalion headquarters declared a state of “red” alert.
The position of UNPROFOR soldiers in the enclave worsened by the day.
Bosnian Serb Army general Krstic must have known the Bosnian Serb Army military actions against Srebrenica were calculated to spark a humanitarian crisis that would later lead to the elimination of the enclave and force the Srebrenica inhabitants into fleeing the town and seeking protection at the Dutch battalion HQ in Potocari.