[5] The Croatian Defence Council (HVO) crossed the Sava river in boats and set out to retake the occupied territory.

On the foggy night of 5 November 1993, 175 members[6] of the HVO's 102nd Infantry Brigade under the command of Tom Božić forced their way to the Sava in the territory of the Republic of Croatia in an attempt to liberate Odžak.

Serbian infantry forces from the reserve were raised to a higher level of readiness and for a greater reaction.

In reaction, members of the brigade called for them to abandon the plan, that is, on the orders of their superiors on the other side of the Sava, they must return.

In addition, because of that action, the lives of Croatian civilians from Kakanj and Vareš who found refugees in Republika Srpska after Muslim forces drove them out of their homes came into question.