Until January 1991, Nanić was an officer of the Yugoslav People's Army, when he returned to his home in Bužim due to a broken leg. He was a lieutenant of the Yugoslav Air Force and Antiaircraft Defence in Kragujevac, Serbia. Before the war in Bosnia, he was one of commanders in the Yugoslav Army in the Battle of Vukovar fighting against the Croatian Army. At the beginning of Bosnian War, he joined the Army of the Republic of Bosnia and Herzegovina. He became the commander of the 505th Brigade of the 5th Corps led by Brigadier General Atif Dudaković. He led the command for four years, the entire war. Izet Nanić was killed during Operation Storm on 5 August 1995.