Timeline of the insurgency in the Preševo Valley

Timeline of the insurgency in the Preševo Valley.

Abbreviations:

Combatants

• UÇPMB-Liberation Army of Preševo, Medveđa and Bujanovac.
• VJ-Yugoslav Army
• NATO-North Atlantic treaty organization
• KFOR-Kosovo Force (NATO)

Insurgency

1999

• June: Due to the FRY's inability to use any heavy weapons against the UÇPMB, the group expanded and occupied all villages related to Sectors B and C east.^[1]
• 21 November: 2 Serbian police officers are killed by a land mine placed by UÇPMB.^[2]
• 21 November: Attack at Prepolac. ANA victory. 3 officers killed after an attack on a police checkpoint.

2000

• 16 January: Pasjane Killings. 3 Serbian civilians killed by UÇPMB.^[3]
• 4 March: Battle of Dobrosin. UÇPMB victory. UÇPMB capture Dobrosin.
• July – 27 November: Clashes around Bujanovac. UÇPMB victory. UÇPMB captures all villages near Bujanovac besides Lučane. KFOR blocks the roads to Dobrosin stopping further conflicts in the area.
• 21–27 November: Attacks near Dobrosin. UÇPMB victory. Serbian forces withdraw from the Ground Safety Zone. 7 Serbian troops killed.
• 21 November: First Battle of Lučane [sq]. UÇPMB victory. 7 Yugoslav troops killed and 5 injured. UÇPMB captures Lučane.^[4][5]
• November: 4 Serbian soldiers killed and many more injured during fighting with UÇPMB.^[6]
• 25 December: Skirmish on Saint Ilija Mountain. MUP victory. MUP capture UÇPMB stronghold in Saint Ilija Mountain.
• 30–31 December: 6 Serbian civilians are kidnapped on the Gjilan-Preševo road. Later released.^[7]

2001

• 24–28 January Battle of Šušaja. UÇPMB victory. UÇPMB captures Šušaja.
• 14 March: Start of Operation Return (2001).
• 13–14 May: Battle of Oraovica. Serbian victory. Serbian troops recapture Oraovica.
• 24 May: UÇPMB commander Ridvan Qazimi killed in a clash against Serbian forces near the Guri Gat mountain above Bujanovac.^[8]
• 1 June: End of Operation Return (2001). Serbian victory. Končulj agreement. Serbian forces capture the GSZ and UÇPMB is disbanded.

Aftermath

2001

• August 3rd: Albanian gunman kills 2 Serbian police officers and injures 2 others.The gunman was never caught, but the Albanian National Army claimed responsibility over the incident.^[9]