Battle of Lojane
Part of 2001 insurgency in Macedonia
Date24–26 May 2001
Location
Lojane, Lipkovo, Macedonia
Result Macedonian victory
Territorial
changes		 Macedonian government regains control of Lojane[1][2]
Belligerents
 Macedonia National Liberation Army
Commanders and leaders
North Macedonia Boris Trajkovski
North Macedonia Ljubčo Georgievski
Army of the Republic of Macedonia Pande Petrovski
Law enforcement in the Republic of Macedonia Ljube Boškoski		 Xhezair Shaqiri
Naim Alili
Nazmi Sulejmani
Hajrulla Misini
Units involved
Army of the Republic of Macedonia Macedonian Army
Law enforcement in the Republic of Macedonia Macedonian Police		 113th Brigade "Ismet Jashari"
114th Brigade
Strength
Army of the Republic of Macedonia Unknown number of tanks and helicopters[1]
Law enforcement in the Republic of Macedonia Unknown		 Unknown
Casualties and losses
Law enforcement in the Republic of Macedonia 1 wounded[3] Unknown
2,000 Albanian civilians displaced[3]

The Battle of Lojane was a military engagement between the Macedonian security forces and Albanian insurgents belonging to the NLA.

Background

Macedonian forces shelled the village on 6 May.[4] On 8 May, Macedonian forces initiated a significant offensive in the Kumanovo-Lipkovo region under the codename Operation MH-2, commencing at 8:00 a.m. The operation began with Macedonian security forces engaging in demining activities in the fields, followed by an assault on the villages of Slupčane, Ljubodrag, Lopate, and Orizare. The offensive was executed by a mechanized battalion with artillery support. However, around 2 p.m., the operation was abruptly halted by orders from Boris Trajkovski, conveyed over a phone call to General Pande Petrovski.[5] Later that evening the two ministries reaffirmed their call for residents in villages including Lojane, Matejče, Slupčane, Otlja, Orizare, Vaksince and to promptly evacuate their homes.[6] The evacuation process was scheduled to commence the next day, after which Macedonian security forces would resume their military actions.[7][8]

On 16 May 2001, Macedonian army again shelled the village of Lojane, setting homes on fire.[9]

Battle

On 24 May 2001, Macedonian security forces launched another general offensive against the NLA in Kumanovo.[10][11] Macedonian security forces recaptured Lojane on 26 May.[12] During the battle, one Macedonian police officer was wounded.[3]

Aftermath

On 27 May 2001, Macedonian security forces confirmed that they had recaptured the village.[13]

Human Rights Watch concluded that Macedonian forces were arresting and beating Albanian civilians during and after their offensive from 24 to 26 May 2001.[14]

According to A1, on 22 August, NLA insurgents provoked Macedonian security forces with automatic weapons in the area of the village.[15]

See also

References

  1. 1 2 "Macedonia seizes rebel villages". The Irish Times. Archived from the original on 4 November 2022. Retrieved 2023-01-25.
  2. ↑ Archives, L. A. Times (2001-05-26). "Rebels Forced From Sites, Macedonia Says". Los Angeles Times. Archived from the original on 16 December 2022. Retrieved 2023-01-25.
  3. 1 2 3 "Mazedonische Polizei erlangt Kontrolle über Vaksince und Lojane". DER STANDARD (in Austrian German). Archived from the original on 25 January 2023. Retrieved 2023-01-25.
  4. ↑ "CNN.com - Shelling resumes in Macedonia - May 6, 2001". 2002-03-07. Archived from the original on 2002-03-07. Retrieved 2023-11-28.
  5. ↑ "CNN.com - Macedonia attacks rebel forces - May 3, 2001". edition.cnn.com. Retrieved 2023-11-28.
  6. ↑ Kahl, Thede; Maksuti, Izer; Ramaj, Albert (2006). Die Albaner in der Republik Makedonien: Fakten, Analysen, Meinungen zur interethnischen Koexistenz (in German). Lit. ISBN 978-3-8258-0030-7.
  7. ↑ "8, May-2001". tanusevci.tripod.com. Retrieved 2023-11-28.
  8. ↑ "9, May-2001". tanusevci.tripod.com. Retrieved 2023-11-28.
  9. ↑ https://www.rferl.org/a/1096445.html
  10. ↑ "АРМ конечно удри врз терористите" Archived 2 October 2013 at the Wayback Machine. ВЕСТ. 25 May 2001
  11. ↑ "Mazedonien: Offensive gegen Rebellen verschärft Krise". FAZ.NET (in German). ISSN 0174-4909. Archived from the original on 30 January 2023. Retrieved 2023-02-25.
  12. ↑ "Macedonian forces take villages". CNN World. 26 May 2001
  13. ↑ https://edition.cnn.com/2001/WORLD/europe/05/27/macedonia.conflict/
  14. ↑ "Macedonian Police Abuses Documented. Human Rights Watch. 31 May 2001". phdn.org. Archived from the original on 26 January 2023. Retrieved 2023-01-26.
  15. ↑ https://mcms.mk/mk/vesti-i-javnost/mcms-vo-mediumite/375-a1-teroristite-ograbuvaat-makedonski-kuki.html
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