15 Photos of “Sniper Alley” and the Bosnian War (1992-1995)

History April 8, 2025

During the Bosnian War that raged through the 1990s, one specific stretch of Sarajevo became notorious around the world. It was known as “Sniper Alley.” This collection of photos can capture the unrivaled tenseness and the dangerous energy of everyday life that was endured during that time. It was a truly horrifying display of urban warfare at its most chilling.

1. Talk about a literal nightmare.

People are running down a city street, with two men carrying children and others crouching or bending forward. In the background, more people appear to be hurrying in various directions. The scene suggests urgency or an emergency situation.
michaelstravato

This Bosnian man was photographed cradling his child as he and many others were forced to spring past one of the worst spots for snipers during the Bosnian War on April 11, 1993.

2. That is a heartbreaking look of fear right there.

Two women are running down a street littered with debris. A truck is parked in the background near buildings with broken windows. The scene suggests urgency and possible aftermath of an event or disaster.

The amount of adrenaline that must’ve coursed through those poor people’s minds is unimaginable.

3. Someone’s father outfitted as a French blue helmet during the Yugoslavian war in 1994.

A soldier wearing a blue helmet stands in a tower, aiming a rifle towards a cityscape. The urban area below features a river and a mix of buildings, stretching into the distance under a hazy sky.
promotiondistrict472

One couldn’t afford to not be locked in all the time.

4. That’s no way to get home.

A person wearing a long coat and boots walks hurriedly down an empty, debris-covered street with damaged buildings. They are carrying a flag and a bag, looking determined amidst the destruction.
monsieura

This poor woman was sprinting for her life down “Sniper Alley.”

5. Bosnian soldier doing his best to keep it together during the street fighting in Sarajevo.

A person with gray hair and a mustache is wearing a green camouflage uniform, holding a rifle while peeking around a corner of a building. The scene appears tense, suggesting a potential conflict setting.
deelted

Look at that stache too.

6. French UN convoy, Sarajevo, circa 1995

Peacekeeping vehicles with "UN" markings travel along a mountain road. The lead vehicle is a white, armored tank followed by several personnel carriers. The terrain is rugged with steep slopes, and the sky is overcast.
anonymous

The noise that those tanks must’ve made when they were on the road too.

7. Bosnian soldier in besieged Sarajevo, during the Bosnian war in the 90s

A soldier in camouflage stands with one foot on a ledge, intently reading a newspaper. He wears a beret and has a rifle slung over his shoulder. People are walking in the background on the street.
onlinereviewer

Now that’s an unnerving level of calm on display right there.

8. A New Zealand peacekeeper with a local soldier in Bosnia and Herzegovina, 1995.

Two soldiers in camouflage uniforms, one with a blue beret, converse on a snowy road. A UN-marked vehicle and other soldiers are in the background, surrounded by snow-covered trees and hills.
aethelredditor

Looks like a brutally cold day out there.

9. Residents of Sarajevo take cover from sniper fire behind a United Nations Protection Force (UNPROFOR) VAB armored vehicle.

UN armored vehicles are stationed on a city street with soldiers wearing blue helmets nearby. A damaged building is in the background, and civilians are seen near the vehicles. The scene depicts a tense situation with military presence.
sgthardtimes

Those were excruciatingly tough times.

10. Woman with a Zestava M70AB2 during the Bosnian War, 1992

A man and two women stand outdoors. The man and one woman are holding rifles. The woman with a rifle wears a black jacket and jeans. The other woman wears a patterned dress. Parked cars and buildings are in the background.
lastwarfare753

Their expressions are eerily upbeat.

11. Members of the Serbian Guard drinking coffee in a Serbian-controlled neighborhood of Sarajevo, during the Bosnian War

A man in a military uniform sits at a table holding a cigarette, with a bandaged hand and a holstered sword. Other men in military attire are seated around the table with drinks in front of them. The background shows a building exterior.
onlinereviewer

Sometimes people could be known to take breaks during the Bosnian War.

12. A member of the Patriotic League in the Bosnian War

A person in military attire holding a rifle over their shoulder, wearing a beret, sunglasses, and gloves. The background is blurred, suggesting an outdoor setting. The image is in black and white.
gecko187

One can only imagine what their eyes looked like behind those shades.

13. He had to go with the sneakers.

A person in camouflage clothing is crouching behind a mounted machine gun, feeding ammunition. They are outdoors, beside a stone wall. The ground is grass and stone, with a window made of glass blocks nearby.
deleted

This guy looks terrifyingly focused in.

14. A mother and child run for their lives along Sniper Alley to avoid being hit by sniper fire in Sarajevo in 1995

A woman pushes a stroller while holding hands with a child. They walk along a sidewalk bordered by grass, in front of a tall metal fence. Trees and a building are visible in the background. The scene suggests a casual outing.
delleted

The fear that so many mothers had to live with during that is staggering.

15. Those poor kids were living through an actual nightmare.

Two boys run across a street; the one in front is carrying a sheep. They appear focused, with parked cars and a few pedestrians in the background. It's a bright, daytime scene.

They couldn’t afford to slow down for a second during those times.

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