Described as "a sleepy cul de sac" because of its geographic location in a valley enclosed by hills and mountains, the Srebrenica enclave was easily blockaded by the Bosnian Serb forces of Colonel General Ratko Mladić, isolating the Dutch battalion, causing serious deficiencies in provisions.
The Srebrenica enclave, described as a "sleepy cul-de-sac" due to its geographical location in a valley surrounded by hills and mountains, was effectively isolated by Bosnian Serb forces under Colonel General Ratko Mladić, causing severe shortages of supplies for the Dutch battalion.