3. Siege of Sarajevo (Bosnia, 1992-1996)
For nearly four years, Sarajevo endured a relentless siege by Bosnian Serb forces, with civilians deliberately targeted by snipers and artillery fire. This systematic attack on noncombatants blatantly violated the Geneva Conventions’ core principle of civilian protection. International intervention was notoriously slow, despite harrowing reports and media coverage. Eventually, some perpetrators faced war crimes tribunals, but for many survivors, justice came late—or not at all. The tragedy of Sarajevo remains a stark lesson in the consequences of inaction.
