The offensive was a Croatian pre-emptive strike against the VRS, a Bosnian Serb military formed in May 1992 from Yugoslav People's Army (JNA) units that were stationed in Bosnia and Herzegovina.

To counter this threat, the Croatian leadership deployed the HV, under the command of General Janko Bobetko, to the "Southern Front" including the area in which Operation Jackal was to be conducted.

[16] After a series of unsuccessful ceasefires, the United Nations Protection Force (UNPROFOR) was deployed to Croatia to supervise and maintain the agreement.

In the final days of March, the Bosnian Serb army bombarded Bosanski Brod with artillery, drawing a border crossing by the HV 108th Brigade in response.

[19] In April 1992, the JNA renewed offensive operations against the HV and the HVO in areas of western and southern Herzegovina near Kupres and Stolac.

The JNA's 2nd Military District, commanded by Colonel General Milutin Kukanjac, deployed elements of the 5th Banja Luka Corps and the 9th Knin Corps to the Kupres region, capturing the town from the HV and the HVO jointly defending the area in the 1992 Battle of Kupres on 7 April and threatening Livno and Tomislavgrad to the southwest.

[26] To counter the perceived threat, the HV deployed additional troops to the area redesignated as the "Southern Front".

The attack coincided with a JNA withdrawal towards Dubrovnik Airport in Konavle and positions within Bosnia and Herzegovina borders,[27] 2 to 10 kilometres (1.2 to 6.2 miles) away from the coast.

The HV/HVO force captured the first objective of the offensive, the town of Tasovčići located across the Neretva River, opposite Čapljina, on 8 June.

[34] As the VRS Herzegovina Corps positions around Tasovčići collapsed, the attacking forces were able to quickly move east along its planned line of advance.

[29] The final part of the northward advance of the force that set off from Čapljina was routed through the villages of Buna and Blagaj,[32] which were also captured on 15 June.

[32] The HV and the HVO completely pushed the VRS from Mostar, advancing further east along the slopes of the Velež Mountain and capturing high ground overlooking the city by 21 June.

Even though the front lines did not move significantly to the east, the city of Mostar was relatively secure from future VRS attacks.

[32] HV deployment to Bosnia and Herzegovina not only gained them significant experience in the execution of large-scale military offensives,[38] but also denied the Bosnian Serb VRS forces the chance to pursue a decisive victory.