On 2 May 1992, Serb forces besieged Sarajevo, the Bosnian capital, and began indiscriminately terrorizing the predominantly Muslim civilian population. In July, the Sarajevo Airport - the city's only lifeline - came under control of the United Nations Protection Force (UNPROFOR): Under command of a Canadian general, 800 Canadian peacekeepers used aggressive tactics to deliver humanitarian aid in the midst of a brutal internal conflict. While the siege continued for another three years, in its pivotal opening months, Canadian soldiers saved the lives of thousands and helped begin the Bosnian peace process