Battle of Junik

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Battle of Junik
Part of the Kosovo War

Location of the municipality of Junik within Kosovo[a]
Date 28 July 1998 – 17 August 1998
Location Junik, Kosovo, Federal Republic of Yugoslavia
Result Strategic Yugoslav victory[1]
Territorial
changes 		Yugoslav government regains control of Junik[2]
Belligerents
Kosovo Liberation Army  FR Yugoslavia[3][4]
Commanders and leaders
Bekim Berisha † Federal Republic of Yugoslavia Svetozar Marjanović
Strength
1,000–1,500 Unknown
Casualties and losses
Unknown Federal Republic of Yugoslavia 2 soldiers killed
Federal Republic of Yugoslavia 4 policemen killed

The Battle of Junik (Albanian: Beteja e Junikut; Serbian: Битка за Јуник, Bitka za Junik) was a battle fought during the Kosovo War between the Albanian rebel group known as the Kosovo Liberation Army (KLA) and security forces of the Federal Republic of Yugoslavia over the town of Junik in western Kosovo.

Battle

During the Kosovo War, the town of Junik was the main conduit for weapons smuggling and distribution of the Kosovo Liberation Army (KLA) in western Kosovo.[5] On 28 July 1998,[6] the Yugoslav Army (VJ) surrounded the estimated 1,000[7][8] to 1,500 KLA insurgents in the town.[9] Government forces then gave civilians and the insurgents one hour to surrender or leave the town, but no one complied once the deadline passed.[6] Heavy fighting ensued. On 17 August 1998, after a siege lasting twenty days, Yugoslav security forces seized control of Junik, forcing many KLA militants to abandon their weapons and ammunition and flee into the surrounding hills and forests[10] as members of the Special Anti-Terrorist Unit stormed the town.[11] The result was the restoration of the federal government's control of the village and the key road that lay next to it. During the battle, four Serb policemen and two Yugoslav army soldiers were killed.[12]

Notes

Notes:

a.   ^ Kosovo is the subject of a territorial dispute between the Republic of Serbia and the Republic of Kosovo. The latter declared independence on 17 February 2008, but Serbia continues to claim it as part of its own sovereign territory. Kosovo's independence has been recognised by 107 out of 193 United Nations member states.

References

  1. ↑ "Last KLA stronghold falls to Serbs". BBC. 16 August 1998. Retrieved 9 December 2012. 
  2. ↑ Rutland, Peter (2000). Holding the Course. EastWest Institute. p. 220. Retrieved 10 May 2013. 
  3. ↑ "Despite Milosevic's pledge, new Kosovo village besieged". CNN. 30 July 1998. Retrieved 28 November 2012. 
  4. ↑ "Aid Workers Blocked From Kosovo Refugees". Seattle Times. 30 July 1998. Retrieved 28 November 2012. 
  5. ↑ "Serbian police spokesman says Kosovo now free of KLA". BBC. 16 August 1998. Retrieved 9 December 2012. 
  6. ↑ 6.0 6.1 "Serbs Retake Kosovo Highway From Rebels". Chicago Tribune. 28 July 1998. Retrieved 28 November 2012. 
  7. ↑ Peter Beaumont (2 August 1998). "Brutal Serb army has destruction of rebels in its sights as Kosovo goes up in flames". The Guardian. Retrieved 28 November 2012. 
  8. ↑ "Serbs Seize One Rebel Redoubt, Attack Second". Chicago Tribune. 13 August 1998. Retrieved 28 November 2012. 
  9. ↑ "Serbs Tighten Ring Around Guerrillas In Kosovo". Chicago Tribune. 28 July 1998. Retrieved 28 November 2012. 
  10. ↑ "Serbs Seize 3 More Kosovo Areas; NATO Begins Drills". Chicago Tribune. 18 August 1998. Retrieved 28 November 2012. 
  11. ↑ "Svedok: Policija bila na udaru OVK". B92. 17 September 2007. Retrieved 9 December 2012. 
  12. ↑ "After 20-day Siege, Serbs Capture Key Rebel Supply Town In Kosovo". Chicago Tribune. 17 August 1998. Retrieved 28 November 2012. 

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