Operation Backstop | |
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Part of the Croatian War of Independence | |
Type | Preemptive deployment |
Location | Western Slavonia, Croatia |
Planned by | United Nations Protection Force |
Objective | Defence of the UNPA Western Slavonia |
Date | Early 1993 |
Executed by | Elements of the Princess Patricia's Canadian Light Infantry |
Outcome | No combat resulted from the deployment. |
Casualties | None |
Operation Backstop was a United Nations Protection Force (UNPROFOR) military plan designed to guard a portion of the United Nations Protected Areas (UNPAs) against attack by the Croatian Army (Hrvatska vojska – HV) during the Croatian War of Independence. The operation, developed by the UNPROFOR staff in charge of the UNPA Western Slavonia (Sector West) in 1992, was scheduled to be implemented by two mechanised companies of the Princess Patricia's Canadian Light Infantry (PPCLI) battalion deployed in the area.
Although no HV attack occurred in the area during the UNPROFOR mandate, elements of the plan were used by the 3rd Battalion of the PPCLI as the HV clashed with the Army of the Republic of Serb Krajina (ARSK) in the January 1993 Operation Maslenica. The 2nd Battalion of the PPCLI implemented the plan in March 1993 to demonstrate UNPROFOR resolve. The UNPROFOR Sector West deputy commander considered the plan impractical except for deterrence, due to security concerns.