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The Battle of Đocaj and Jasić (Albanian: Luftimet ne Gjocaj dhe Jasiq; Serbian: Битка код Ђоцаја и Јасића, Bitka kod Đocaja i Jasića) also known as the Battle of Zharra (Albanian: Beteja e Zharres; Serbian: Битка код Жара, Bitka kod Žara) took place during the Kosovo War between the ethnic Albanian paramilitary organization known as the Kosovo Liberation Army (KLA) and the security forces of the Federal Republic of Yugoslavia over the villages of Đocaj and Jasić in the Junik municipality in western Kosovo.
| Battle of Đocaj and Jasić | |||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Part of the Kosovo War | |||||||||
| |||||||||
| Belligerents | |||||||||
 Federal Republic of Yugoslavia |
 Kosovo Liberation Army | ||||||||
| Commanders and leaders | |||||||||
|
Goran Ostojić † Dragan Dušanić † Srđan Stančetić † Mile Karanović |
Agim Ramadani Rrustem Berisha Xhezair Shaqiri | ||||||||
| Units involved | |||||||||
|
63rd Parachute Brigade |
138th Brigade "Agim Ramadani" | ||||||||
| Strength | |||||||||
|
Unknown |
Unknown | ||||||||
| Casualties and losses | |||||||||
|
5 killed 1 wounded |
3 killed 2 wounded | ||||||||
Battle
editOn July 21, 1998, the 63rd parachute brigade of VJ, led by Goran Ostojić, approached the villages of Đocaj and Jasić, preparing for an ambush.[1][unreliable source?][better source needed] Their objective was to attack the Kosovo Liberation Army forces belonging to the 138th Brigade, commanded by Agim Ramadani and Rrustem Berisha.[2][1][unreliable source?][better source needed] The KLA forces were stationed at a base near Žar Koliba, or Zharr in Albanian.[3][1][unreliable source?][better source needed] The VJ monitored the KLA's movements until July 28, 1998, when the KLA confronted them.[1][unreliable source?][better source needed] The KLA managed to effectively counter any Yugoslav attacks.[4] Positioned strategically at Gunovac and Kumarec points, KLA units inflicted significant losses on the VJ. The battle intensified as the KLA successfully cut the supply route for the VJ, thus halting their advance.[4] Goran Ostojić then directed a new reconnaissance group to secure the Gunovac point and facilitate the arrival of the main forces. Around 4:00 pm, the reconnaissance group led by Mile Karanović encountered an attack by the KLA group, which prevented their attempt to capture the Gunovac point.[4] Swiftly intervening, Goran Ostojić pulled the group back, and at 5:00 pm, he ordered the unit to withdraw to the base in groups.[4] During the attempt to reestablish contact with the reconnaissance group, Goran Ostojić, driving an all-terrain vehicle, fell into an KLA ambush and was killed in the encounter.[4][5]
In a final attempt, VJ sought to recover the body of Goran Ostojić, but found itself surrounded by several groups of KLA militants in the Junik mountains, before withdrawing towards the forrests to Junik.[4]
During the battle, three Yugoslav personnel were killed, one other sustained injuries, and two remained missing and are presumed dead.[4] Meanwhile the KLA had three of their soldiers killed and two wounded.[2]
Personnel killed in the battle
editYugoslav personnel
edit- Goran Ostojić, Lieutenant colonel[6][7]
- Dragan Dušanić, Senior Sergeant[6]
- Srđan Stančetić, Senior Sergeant[6]
- Radoš Cerović, Soldier[6]
- Goran Todorović , Soldier, missing[6]
KLA personnel
editReferences
edit- ^ a b c d "Једна ратна прича са Космета - www.zlocininadsrbima.com". www.zlocininadsrbima.com. Retrieved 2023-11-26.
- ^ a b "Rrëfim ekskluziv i ushtarit të UÇK-së në Koshare: Ja si luftuam dhe sa serbë i vramë". Bota Sot. Retrieved 2023-11-26.
- ^ U nderua 20-vjetori i ‘Betejës së Zharrës’ https://www.epokaere.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/07/Epoka-28-KORRIK-2018.pdf
- ^ a b c d e f g "Чојство - Горан Остојић". cojstvo.rs (in Serbian). Retrieved 2023-11-26.
- ^ Beer, Karl Willy (1998). Die Politische Meinung (in German). Verlag Staat und Gesellschaft. p. 89.
- ^ a b c d e Jugpress (2018-10-13). "Sećanje na drugove : DA SE NE ZABORAVI – KOŠARE". JUGPRESS (in Bosnian). Retrieved 2023-11-26.
- ^ Novine, Levačke (2016-04-09). "Kako je Goran Ostojić poginuo na Košarama". Levačke Novine (in Serbian). Retrieved 2023-11-26.
- ^ a b c "Veprimtaria Kombëtare e Heroit të Kosovës Agim Ramadanit- Katana". Bota Sot. Retrieved 2023-11-26.