The Battle of Šušaja was a battle between police of the Federal Republic of Yugoslavia and Albanian militant group Liberation Army of Preševo, Medveđa and Bujanovac (UÇPMB) during the 2000-2001 insurgency in the Preševo Valley.[1]
| Battle of Šušaja | |||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Part of the Insurgency in the Preševo Valley | |||||||||
| |||||||||
| Belligerents | |||||||||
 Liberation Army of Preševo, Medveđa and Bujanovac |
 Federal Republic of Yugoslavia | ||||||||
| Commanders and leaders | |||||||||
|
Shaban Ukshini Sami Ukshini Bardhyl Osmani |
Nebojša Pavković Dragan Dimitrijević † | ||||||||
| Units involved | |||||||||
|
113th Brigade "Ibrahim Fejzullahu" |
.svg){kind=small} Yugoslav Army SAJ Special Forces | ||||||||
| Strength | |||||||||
|
20 insurgents (Yugoslav claim)[1] |
Unknown number of soldiers 7 Tanks[1] | ||||||||
| Casualties and losses | |||||||||
|
1 killed 3 wounded[2] |
1 killed[2] 3 killed (LAPMB claim)[3] 4 wounded[2] 1 Tank hit[1] | ||||||||
Battle
editOn January 6, 2001, a faction of LAPMB insurgents took control of Gornja Šušaja.[4] They were well received by the local Albanian population, and some residents even joined their ranks.[4] On January 19, another group of LAPMB insurgents from Gornja Šušaja, led by Bardhyl Osmani, conducted a raid on Yugoslav army positions near Crnotince.[4][5] The following day, January 20, 2001, a sizable Yugoslav Army, comprising tanks, armored vehicles, and special forces, surrounded Gornja Šušaja, preparing to launch an attack on the LAPMB stronghold. On January 24, Yugoslav forces initiated an assault on the village from three directions. The battle persisted for four days until Yugoslav forces eventually were forced to withdraw.[4][5]
Throughout the battle, three LAPMB insurgents were wounded, whereas four Yugoslav soldiers were wounded, one of whom later died due to his injuries.[4][2][3][6][7][8] The LAPMB claimed to have killed three Yugoslav soldiers during the engagement.[3]
References
edit- ^ a b c d "Kämpfe und Kriegsstimmung in Südserbien". Neue Zürcher Zeitung. 29 January 2001. Retrieved 27 August 2023.
- ^ a b c d "Newsline - January 29, 2001". Radio Free Europe/Radio Liberty. 2008-06-20. Retrieved 2023-08-27.
- ^ a b c "Balkan Report: February 9, 2001". Radio Free Europe/Radio Liberty. 2008-11-11. Retrieved 2023-08-27.
- ^ a b c d e "Në kujtim të 20 vjetorit të njërës nga betejat e luftës së Preshevës – Epoka e Re". Retrieved 2023-08-27.
- ^ a b +Presheva.AL (2021-01-25). "Në njëzet vjetorin e Betejës së Shoshajës 24-28 janar të vitit 2001". PRESHEVA.AL. Retrieved 2023-08-27.
- ^ Ivanji, Andrej (2001-01-30). "Eskalation in Südserbien". Die Tageszeitung: taz (in German). p. 10. ISSN 0931-9085. Retrieved 2023-08-27.
- ^ Europe and the Mediterranean cdn.un.org
- ^ Toledo Blade. Toledo Blade.