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| === July 18, 1998, Albanian–Yugoslav border clashes === | === July 18, 1998, Albanian–Yugoslav border clashes === | ||
| {{Main|July 18, 1998, Albanian–Yugoslav border clashes}} | |||
| On 18 July 1998, a group of ] insurgents together with a small group of mujahedeen (most of which were civilians from ]) crossed the border between Albania and Yugoslavia before being ambushed by the 53rd border battalion. The insurgents were smuggling weapons to Kosovo, some claims suggest that they were tryig to reinforce their ]. Estimates on the number of KLA fighters vary, ] claimed that there were around 200 KLA insurgents together with 24 mujahedeen, the political scientist David L. Phillips and diplomat Nicholas Burns state that there were 22 mujahideen and 300 KLA fighters, ], a journalist specializing in the Balkans, believes that the group may have been made up of as many as 700 militants, and the VJ stated that there were up to 1000 militants. In the ensuing fight 4 KLA fighters would be killed together with 18 mujahedeen, while the other militants would escape. 1 Yugoslav soldier was heavily wounded and another was lightly wounded. A large stash of guns dropped by the KLA during their retreat would be siezed by Yugoslav forces. | On 18 July 1998, a group of ] insurgents together with a small group of mujahedeen (most of which were civilians from ]) crossed the border between Albania and Yugoslavia before being ambushed by the 53rd border battalion. The insurgents were smuggling weapons to Kosovo, some claims suggest that they were tryig to reinforce their ]. Estimates on the number of KLA fighters vary, ] claimed that there were around 200 KLA insurgents together with 24 mujahedeen, the political scientist David L. Phillips and diplomat Nicholas Burns state that there were 22 mujahideen and 300 KLA fighters, ], a journalist specializing in the Balkans, believes that the group may have been made up of as many as 700 militants, and the VJ stated that there were up to 1000 militants. In the ensuing fight 4 KLA fighters would be killed together with 18 mujahedeen, while the other militants would escape. 1 Yugoslav soldier was heavily wounded and another was lightly wounded. A large stash of guns dropped by the KLA during their retreat would be siezed by Yugoslav forces. | ||
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| === Battle of Morina === | === Battle of Morina === | ||
| On 7 August 1998, the Yugoslav forces entered the village of ], the nearest village to the Albanian border. There they were attacked by a group of KLA militants. In the ensuing battle 6 KLA militants would be killed, however the Yugoslav casualties would be greater, with many soldiers being killed, leading to the Yugoslav army retreating from ]. | On 7 August 1998, the Yugoslav forces entered the village of ], the nearest village to the Albanian border. There they were attacked by a group of KLA militants. In the ensuing battle 6 KLA militants would be killed, however the Yugoslav casualties would be greater, with many soldiers being killed, leading to the Yugoslav army retreating from ]. | ||
| === Battle of Opljaz === | |||
| On 9 August 1998, the ] 138th birgade commanded by ] led an operation in the village of Oplazë (romanized: "''Opljaz''") on the Albanian-Yugoslav border. The operation was a KLA success with 17-20 Yugoslav soldiers being killed, including 2 Yugoslav ]. The ] reported no casualties. | |||
| === Operation in Gjeravica === | |||
| On 15 September 1998 the 138th brigade led by ] led another operation on the Albanian-Yugoslav border. The operation was carried out in areas in and near ] where the KLA killed 40 Yugoslav soldiers and injured another 20. | |||
| === Operation Fenix === | |||
| {{Main|Operation Fenix}} | |||
| On 30 September 1998, the ] 138th brigade led by ], composed of 30 soldiers, carried out an operation near the Albanian-Yugoslav border codenamed "''Operation Fenix''". The militants laid anti-tank mines on the ground, leading to a Yugoslav tank running one over. The mine exploded, leading to 1 soldier being killed and 4 being injured. The Yugoslav army quickly brought in a ] to rescue the injured troops, however it was fired upon by the militants. Shortly after, another ambush was carried near the Košare outpost, where the KLA fired upon Yugoslav armored vehicles, killing 5 soldiers and wounding 2 aswell as destroying a Yugoslav ] and damaging a Yugoslav ]. The KLA then robbed the dead corpses. Another ] came down to the "ambush-scene" but was instantly fired upon and retreated. | |||
| == References == | == References == | ||
| <!-- Inline citations added to your article will automatically display here. See en.wikipedia.org/WP:REFB for instructions on how to add citations. --> | |||
| {{reflist}} | {{reflist}} | ||
Revision as of 11:00, 28 December 2024
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| Albanian-Yugoslav border conflict (1998-1999) | |||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Part of the Kosovo War and Yugoslav Wars | |||||||
| |||||||
| Belligerents | |||||||
 Kosovo Liberation Army1999:  AlbaniaSupport:  Mujahedeen NATO |
 Yugoslavia | ||||||
| Commanders and leaders | |||||||
|
Alija Rabić † Wesley Clark |
Božidar Delić Nebojša Pavković Vladimir Lazarević Dragan Živanović | ||||||
| Units involved | |||||||
|
138th Brigade 121st Brigade 123rd Brigade 1999:  Kukës division |
Priština Corps Units 549th Motorized Brigade 53rd Border Batallion 72nd Brigade for Special Operations 2nd Battalion of the 125th Motorized Brigade 63rd Parachute Brigade  Russian volunteers Ukrainian volunteers | ||||||
| Strength | |||||||
|
22-24 fighters Units of B-52,A-10 and Lockheed AC-130 aircrafts. |
Thousands Tanks and armored vehicles | ||||||
| Casualties and losses | |||||||
|
18 killed None |
Per NATO: 32 artillery pieces, 9 armored personnel carriers, 6 armored vehicles, 4 other military vehicles, 8 mortar positions and one SA6 surface to air missile. | ||||||
Events
During the Insurgency in Kosovo the KLA used the Albanian-Yugoslav border for regular weapon smuggling. These activities continued during the Kosovo War. In the Battle of Baballoq alone, the KLA led 10 trips to the Albanian-Yugoslav border to smuggle weapons, resupplying the KLA's forces. Due to these activities, the Yugoslav army reinforced their forces on the border with Albania. A key component of the Yugoslav forces on the border with Albania was the 53rd Border Battalion led by Božidar Delić.
April 23, 1998, Albanian–Yugoslav border ambush
Main article: April 23, 1998, Albanian-Yugoslav border ambushOn 23 April 1998, at 5:45, the 53rd border Battalion incountered a group of 150-200 KLA insurgents near the Košare border post, Deçan, who were attempting to smuggle weapons from Albania. Armed with howitzers and rocket launchers, the Yugoslav army ambushed the militants, leading to a fierce clash breaking out, with the fighting lasting the whole night. After the fighting, 19 militants were killed, 1 was injured and 2 were captured. The remaining militants escaped the ambush and fled back to Albania. On the other hand the Yugoslav forces suffered no reported casualties, despite being outnumbered.
The next day after the ambush, the residents of the village of Botushë reported artillery fire and helicopters flying ahead.
July 18, 1998, Albanian–Yugoslav border clashes
Main article: July 18, 1998, Albanian–Yugoslav border clashesOn 18 July 1998, a group of KLA insurgents together with a small group of mujahedeen (most of which were civilians from Saudi Arabia) crossed the border between Albania and Yugoslavia before being ambushed by the 53rd border battalion. The insurgents were smuggling weapons to Kosovo, some claims suggest that they were tryig to reinforce their forces in Orahovac. Estimates on the number of KLA fighters vary, Human Rights Watch claimed that there were around 200 KLA insurgents together with 24 mujahedeen, the political scientist David L. Phillips and diplomat Nicholas Burns state that there were 22 mujahideen and 300 KLA fighters, Tim Judah, a journalist specializing in the Balkans, believes that the group may have been made up of as many as 700 militants, and the VJ stated that there were up to 1000 militants. In the ensuing fight 4 KLA fighters would be killed together with 18 mujahedeen, while the other militants would escape. 1 Yugoslav soldier was heavily wounded and another was lightly wounded. A large stash of guns dropped by the KLA during their retreat would be siezed by Yugoslav forces.
Albanian-Yugoslav border shelling
The next day on 19 July 1998, the Yugoslav forces shelled KLA insurgents near the Albanian border. Initial reports claimed that 30 KLA militants were killed, however later reports revealed that there were no deaths, however 31 KLA militants were injured.
Battle of Morina
On 7 August 1998, the Yugoslav forces entered the village of Morina, the nearest village to the Albanian border. There they were attacked by a group of KLA militants. In the ensuing battle 6 KLA militants would be killed, however the Yugoslav casualties would be greater, with many soldiers being killed, leading to the Yugoslav army retreating from Morina.
Battle of Opljaz
On 9 August 1998, the KLA's 138th birgade commanded by Agim Ramadani led an operation in the village of Oplazë (romanized: "Opljaz") on the Albanian-Yugoslav border. The operation was a KLA success with 17-20 Yugoslav soldiers being killed, including 2 Yugoslav army officers. The KLA reported no casualties.
Operation in Gjeravica
On 15 September 1998 the 138th brigade led by Agim Ramadani led another operation on the Albanian-Yugoslav border. The operation was carried out in areas in and near Mt.Gjeravica where the KLA killed 40 Yugoslav soldiers and injured another 20.
Operation Fenix
Main article: Operation FenixOn 30 September 1998, the KLA's 138th brigade led by Agim Ramadani, composed of 30 soldiers, carried out an operation near the Albanian-Yugoslav border codenamed "Operation Fenix". The militants laid anti-tank mines on the ground, leading to a Yugoslav tank running one over. The mine exploded, leading to 1 soldier being killed and 4 being injured. The Yugoslav army quickly brought in a helicopter to rescue the injured troops, however it was fired upon by the militants. Shortly after, another ambush was carried near the Košare outpost, where the KLA fired upon Yugoslav armored vehicles, killing 5 soldiers and wounding 2 aswell as destroying a Yugoslav BOV and damaging a Yugoslav Pinzgauer. The KLA then robbed the dead corpses. Another helicopter came down to the "ambush-scene" but was instantly fired upon and retreated.