U.S.-Led Drops Continue Over Bosnia Nightly

FRANKFURT, Germany — While the U.S. government and its Western allies agonize over possible military intervention in the Balkans, the U.S.-led airdrops of food continue every night over Bosnia-Herzegovina, mostly to embattled Muslim enclaves in eastern Bosnia.

Launched with much fanfare Feb. 28, the airdrops quickly became routine and have gone on without a hitch. U.S. military officials say the mission has been a success.

The C-130 U.S. Air Force cargo planes take off from the Rhein-Main Base outside Frankfurt.

Although the Bosnian Serbs sharply criticized the mission, they have not challenged it. The U.S. planes, which have been joined by French and German aircraft, have encountered no hostile fire.

So far, more than 3,200 tons of food and 65 tons of medical supplies have been parachuted into Bosnia.

While Bosnian Muslims say the food hasn’t been enough to feed everyone in Srebrenica, Zepa, Gorazde and other war-ravaged towns, they still welcome the nightly help.

In addition to the airdrops, U.S. planes flying out of the Rhein-Main base have delivered more than 13,700 tons of supplies to Sarajevo as part of the U.N.-operated airlift to the Bosnian capital.