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The '''Ambush near Kosovska Mitrovica''' ({{lang-sr|Zaseda kod Kosovske Mitrovice}}; {{lang-sq|Prita afër Mitrovicës}}) was an incident that occurred on 8 January 1999, when members of the [[Kosovo Liberation Army]] (KLA) ambushed a [[Ministry of Internal Affairs (Serbia)|Yugoslav Interior Ministry]] convoy carrying rations to troops stationed in a field near [[Kosovska Mitrovica]].<ref name=":1">{{Cite news |date=9 January 1999 |title=Kosovo rebels kill 3 Serbs |pages=1 |work=[[The Associated Press]] |url=https://news.google.com/newspapers?nid=1893&dat=19990109&id=7M0wAAAAIBAJ&sjid=09wFAAAAIBAJ&pg=1170,1331353}}</ref><ref name=":0">{{Cite news |date=9 January 1999 |title=KOSOVO REBELS KILL 3 SERB POLICE, SEIZE 8 SOLDIERS IN AMBUSHES |page=6 |work=[[Chicago Tribune]] |url=https://www.chicagotribune.com/news/ct-xpm-1999-01-09-9901090267-story.html?adlt=strict&toWww=1&redig=DA8DE5646EB7461F916EC39A41645459}}</ref><ref name=":2">{{Cite news |date=9 January 1999 |title=Serb forces gear up after rebels kill 3 officers, seize 8 soldiers |page=6 |newspaper=[[Deseret News]] |agency=[[The Associated Press]] |url=https://www.deseret.com/1999/1/9/19425868/serb-forces-gear-up-after-rebels-kill-3-officers-seize-8-soldiers?adlt=strict&toWww=1&redig=7D05CE7295DF4A78A93A22E8172065A3}}</ref><ref>{{Cite news |last=Smith |first=R. Jeffrey |date=1999-01-28 |title=SERBS TRIED TO COVER UP MASSACRE |language=en-US |newspaper=Washington Post |url=https://www.washingtonpost.com/archive/politics/1999/01/28/serbs-tried-to-cover-up-massacre/7f77c7e7-7a87-472e-b177-f679a76a2454/ |access-date=2023-11-25 |issn=0190-8286}}</ref> Later that evening, two columns of Yugoslav troops, accompanied with at least fifty tanks, set off in the direction of Kosovska Mitrovica.<ref name=":0" /><ref>{{Cite web |title=CNN - Yugoslav army moves tanks into Kosovo villages - January 9, 1999 |url=http://www.cnn.com/WORLD/europe/9901/09/kosovo.02/ |access-date=2023-11-29 |website=www.cnn.com}}</ref> The Yugoslav troops told journalists that they were heading toward the area where the captive troops were thought to be held.<ref name=":0" />{{Campaignbox Kosovo War}}
The '''Ambush near Mitrovica''' ({{lang-sr|Zaseda kod Kosovske Mitrovice}}; {{lang-sq|Prita afër Mitrovicës}}) was an incident that occurred on 8 January 1999, when members of the [[Kosovo Liberation Army]] (KLA) ambushed a [[Ministry of Internal Affairs (Serbia)|Yugoslav Interior Ministry]] convoy carrying rations to troops stationed in a field near [[Mitrovica, Kosovo|Mitrovicë]].<ref name=":1">{{Cite news |date=9 January 1999 |title=Kosovo rebels kill 3 Serbs |pages=1 |work=[[The Associated Press]] |url=https://news.google.com/newspapers?nid=1893&dat=19990109&id=7M0wAAAAIBAJ&sjid=09wFAAAAIBAJ&pg=1170,1331353}}</ref><ref name=":0">{{Cite news |date=9 January 1999 |title=KOSOVO REBELS KILL 3 SERB POLICE, SEIZE 8 SOLDIERS IN AMBUSHES |page=6 |work=[[Chicago Tribune]] |url=https://www.chicagotribune.com/news/ct-xpm-1999-01-09-9901090267-story.html?adlt=strict&toWww=1&redig=DA8DE5646EB7461F916EC39A41645459}}</ref><ref name=":2">{{Cite news |date=9 January 1999 |title=Serb forces gear up after rebels kill 3 officers, seize 8 soldiers |page=6 |newspaper=[[Deseret News]] |agency=[[The Associated Press]] |url=https://www.deseret.com/1999/1/9/19425868/serb-forces-gear-up-after-rebels-kill-3-officers-seize-8-soldiers?adlt=strict&toWww=1&redig=7D05CE7295DF4A78A93A22E8172065A3}}</ref><ref>{{Cite news |last=Smith |first=R. Jeffrey |date=1999-01-28 |title=SERBS TRIED TO COVER UP MASSACRE |language=en-US |newspaper=Washington Post |url=https://www.washingtonpost.com/archive/politics/1999/01/28/serbs-tried-to-cover-up-massacre/7f77c7e7-7a87-472e-b177-f679a76a2454/ |access-date=2023-11-25 |issn=0190-8286}}</ref> Later that evening, two columns of Yugoslav troops, accompanied with at least fifty tanks, set off in the direction of Mitrovica.<ref name=":0" /><ref>{{Cite web |title=CNN - Yugoslav army moves tanks into Kosovo villages - January 9, 1999 |url=http://www.cnn.com/WORLD/europe/9901/09/kosovo.02/ |access-date=2023-11-29 |website=www.cnn.com}}</ref> The Yugoslav troops told journalists that they were heading toward the area where the captive troops were thought to be held.<ref name=":0" />{{Campaignbox Kosovo War}}


== Background ==
== Background ==
In 1992–1993, ethnic Albanians created the KLA<ref name="ErikssonKostić2013">{{cite book |last1=Eriksson |first1=Mikael |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=EuVWELK7awsC&pg=PA43 |title=Mediation and Liberal Peacebuilding: Peace from the Ashes of War? |last2=Kostić |first2=Roland |date=15 February 2013 |publisher=Routledge |isbn=978-1-136-18916-6 |pages=43–}}</ref> which started attacking Yugoslavian police forces and secret-service officials who abused Albanian civilians in 1995.<ref>{{Cite book |last=Perritt |first=Henry H. |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=SlHqkxGk4Q8C |title=Kosovo Liberation Army: The Inside Story of an Insurgency |date=2010-10-01 |publisher=University of Illinois Press |isbn=978-0-252-09213-8 |page=63 |language=en}}</ref> Starting in 1998, the KLA was involved in frontal battle, with increasing numbers of Yugoslav security forces. Escalating tensions led to the Kosovo War in February 1998.<ref>{{cite book |author=Independent International Commission on Kosovo |url=http://reliefweb.int/sites/reliefweb.int/files/resources/6D26FF88119644CFC1256989005CD392-thekosovoreport.pdf |title=The Kosovo Report |publisher=Oxford University Press |year=2000 |isbn=978-0199243099 |location=Oxford |page=2 |access-date=2020-08-10 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220411181432/https://reliefweb.int/sites/reliefweb.int/files/resources/6D26FF88119644CFC1256989005CD392-thekosovoreport.pdf |archive-date=2022-04-11 |url-status=live}}</ref><ref>{{cite book |last=Quackenbush |first=Stephen L. |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=l9c5DQAAQBAJ&pg=PA202 |title=International Conflict: Logic and Evidence |publisher=Sage |year=2015 |isbn=9781452240985 |location=Los Angeles |page=202 |access-date=2020-09-24 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230111165732/https://books.google.com/books?id=l9c5DQAAQBAJ&pg=PA202 |archive-date=2023-01-11 |url-status=live}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |date=June 1999 |title=Roots of the Insurgency in Kosovo |url=https://www.ausa.org/sites/default/files/BB-82-Roots-of-the-Insurgency-in-Kosovo.pdf |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210625175227/https://www.ausa.org/sites/default/files/BB-82-Roots-of-the-Insurgency-in-Kosovo.pdf |archive-date=2021-06-25 |access-date=2020-08-08}}</ref> The shelling of the village of Slapužane by Yugoslav troops triggered the ambush by KLA forces.<ref name=":1" /><ref name=":0" /><ref name=":2" />
In 1992–1993, ethnic Albanians created the KLA<ref name="ErikssonKostić2013">{{cite book |last1=Eriksson |first1=Mikael |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=EuVWELK7awsC&pg=PA43 |title=Mediation and Liberal Peacebuilding: Peace from the Ashes of War? |last2=Kostić |first2=Roland |date=15 February 2013 |publisher=Routledge |isbn=978-1-136-18916-6 |pages=43–}}</ref> which started attacking Yugoslavian police forces and secret-service officials who abused Albanian civilians in 1995.<ref>{{Cite book |last=Perritt |first=Henry H. |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=SlHqkxGk4Q8C |title=Kosovo Liberation Army: The Inside Story of an Insurgency |date=2010-10-01 |publisher=University of Illinois Press |isbn=978-0-252-09213-8 |page=63 |language=en}}</ref> Starting in 1998, the KLA was involved in frontal battle, with increasing numbers of Yugoslav security forces. Escalating tensions led to the Kosovo War in February 1998.<ref>{{cite book |author=Independent International Commission on Kosovo |url=http://reliefweb.int/sites/reliefweb.int/files/resources/6D26FF88119644CFC1256989005CD392-thekosovoreport.pdf |title=The Kosovo Report |publisher=Oxford University Press |year=2000 |isbn=978-0199243099 |location=Oxford |page=2 |access-date=2020-08-10 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220411181432/https://reliefweb.int/sites/reliefweb.int/files/resources/6D26FF88119644CFC1256989005CD392-thekosovoreport.pdf |archive-date=2022-04-11 |url-status=live}}</ref><ref>{{cite book |last=Quackenbush |first=Stephen L. |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=l9c5DQAAQBAJ&pg=PA202 |title=International Conflict: Logic and Evidence |publisher=Sage |year=2015 |isbn=9781452240985 |location=Los Angeles |page=202 |access-date=2020-09-24 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230111165732/https://books.google.com/books?id=l9c5DQAAQBAJ&pg=PA202 |archive-date=2023-01-11 |url-status=live}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |date=June 1999 |title=Roots of the Insurgency in Kosovo |url=https://www.ausa.org/sites/default/files/BB-82-Roots-of-the-Insurgency-in-Kosovo.pdf |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210625175227/https://www.ausa.org/sites/default/files/BB-82-Roots-of-the-Insurgency-in-Kosovo.pdf |archive-date=2021-06-25 |access-date=2020-08-08}}</ref> The shelling of the village of Sllapuzhan by Yugoslav troops triggered the ambush by KLA forces.<ref name=":1" /><ref name=":0" /><ref name=":2" />


== Incident ==
== Incident ==
On 8 January, soldiers of the KLA attacked and ambushed a Yugoslav convoy heading for Kosovska Mitrovica in the village [[Bare, Mitrovica|Bare]] in the region [[Shala e Bajgorës]].<ref name="Kurti"></ref> The KLA killed three [[Serbs|Serb]] policemen, wounded one,<ref name=":5" /> and captured eight other policemen.<ref name=":1" /><ref name=":0" /><ref name=":2" /><ref name=":3">{{Cite web |date=1999-01-11 |title=USAID/OFDA Kosovo Disaster Assistance Response Team (DART) Update January 11, 1999 - Albania {{!}} ReliefWeb |url=https://reliefweb.int/report/albania/usaidofda-kosovo-disaster-assistance-response-team-dart-update-january-11-1999 |access-date=2023-10-15 |website=reliefweb.int |language=en}}</ref><ref>{{Cite news |last=Bird |first=Chris |date=1999-01-09 |title=Rebel killings put Kosovo truce at risk |language=en-GB |work=The Guardian |url=https://www.theguardian.com/world/1999/jan/09/1 |access-date=2023-11-29 |issn=0261-3077}}</ref>
On 8 January, soldiers of the KLA attacked and ambushed a Yugoslav convoy heading for Mitrovica in the village [[Bare, Mitrovica|Bare]] in the region [[Shala e Bajgorës]].<ref name="Kurti"></ref> The KLA killed three [[Serbs|Serb]] policemen, wounded one,<ref name=":5" /> and captured eight other policemen.<ref name=":1" /><ref name=":0" /><ref name=":2" /><ref name=":3">{{Cite web |date=1999-01-11 |title=USAID/OFDA Kosovo Disaster Assistance Response Team (DART) Update January 11, 1999 - Albania {{!}} ReliefWeb |url=https://reliefweb.int/report/albania/usaidofda-kosovo-disaster-assistance-response-team-dart-update-january-11-1999 |access-date=2023-10-15 |website=reliefweb.int |language=en}}</ref><ref>{{Cite news |last=Bird |first=Chris |date=1999-01-09 |title=Rebel killings put Kosovo truce at risk |language=en-GB |work=The Guardian |url=https://www.theguardian.com/world/1999/jan/09/1 |access-date=2023-11-29 |issn=0261-3077}}</ref>


== Aftermath ==
== Aftermath ==
Talks between the Serbs and the KLA on the release of the captured soldiers were conducted in the village of [[Stantërg|Stari Trg]]. The ambush led to renewed fighting in the Podujevo area.<ref name=":3" /> The KLA followed up the ambush with another attack on a Serbian police patrol near the village of Slivovo, killing one police officer.<ref name=":5" /> The village of [[Račak]] served as the [[staging area]] for these ambushes, resulting in a significant build up of Yugoslav Army forces and subsequent [[Račak massacre|massacre]] on the village.<ref name="Aertsenetal.2013">{{cite book |last1=Aertsen |first1=Ivo |title=Restoring Justice After Large-scale Violent Conflicts - Kosovo, DR Congo and the Israeli-Palestinian Case |last2=Arsovska |first2=Jane |last3=Vanspauwen |first3=Kris |last4=Valiñas |first4=Marta |last5=Rohne |first5=Holger |date=2013 |publisher=Willian Publishing |isbn=978-1-84392-302-2 |pages=90–91}}</ref>
Talks between the Serbs and the KLA on the release of the captured soldiers were conducted in the village of [[Stantërg]]. The ambush led to renewed fighting in the [[Podujevë]] area.<ref name=":3" /> The KLA followed up the ambush with another attack on a Serbian police patrol near the village of Slivovë, killing one police officer.<ref name=":5" /> The village of [[Reçak]] served as the [[staging area]] for these ambushes, resulting in a significant build up of Yugoslav Army forces and subsequent [[Račak massacre|massacre]] on the village.<ref name="Aertsenetal.2013">{{cite book |last1=Aertsen |first1=Ivo |title=Restoring Justice After Large-scale Violent Conflicts - Kosovo, DR Congo and the Israeli-Palestinian Case |last2=Arsovska |first2=Jane |last3=Vanspauwen |first3=Kris |last4=Valiñas |first4=Marta |last5=Rohne |first5=Holger |date=2013 |publisher=Willian Publishing |isbn=978-1-84392-302-2 |pages=90–91}}</ref>


== References ==
== References ==

Revision as of 12:42, 9 October 2024

Ambush near Mitrovica
Part of the Kosovo War
Date8 January 1999
Location
Bare, Mitrovica, FR Yugoslavia
Result KLA victory
Belligerents
Kosovo Liberation Army Federal Republic of Yugoslavia
Units involved
141st Brigade “Mehë Uka”[1] Yugoslav Army
Casualties and losses
unknown 3 killed
1 wounded[2]
8 captured (later released)

The Ambush near Mitrovica (Template:Lang-sr; Template:Lang-sq) was an incident that occurred on 8 January 1999, when members of the Kosovo Liberation Army (KLA) ambushed a Yugoslav Interior Ministry convoy carrying rations to troops stationed in a field near Mitrovicë.[3][4][5][6] Later that evening, two columns of Yugoslav troops, accompanied with at least fifty tanks, set off in the direction of Mitrovica.[4][7] The Yugoslav troops told journalists that they were heading toward the area where the captive troops were thought to be held.[4]

Background

In 1992–1993, ethnic Albanians created the KLA[8] which started attacking Yugoslavian police forces and secret-service officials who abused Albanian civilians in 1995.[9] Starting in 1998, the KLA was involved in frontal battle, with increasing numbers of Yugoslav security forces. Escalating tensions led to the Kosovo War in February 1998.[10][11][12] The shelling of the village of Sllapuzhan by Yugoslav troops triggered the ambush by KLA forces.[3][4][5]

Incident

On 8 January, soldiers of the KLA attacked and ambushed a Yugoslav convoy heading for Mitrovica in the village Bare in the region Shala e Bajgorës.[1] The KLA killed three Serb policemen, wounded one,[2] and captured eight other policemen.[3][4][5][13][14]

Aftermath

Talks between the Serbs and the KLA on the release of the captured soldiers were conducted in the village of Stantërg. The ambush led to renewed fighting in the Podujevë area.[13] The KLA followed up the ambush with another attack on a Serbian police patrol near the village of Slivovë, killing one police officer.[2] The village of Reçak served as the staging area for these ambushes, resulting in a significant build up of Yugoslav Army forces and subsequent massacre on the village.[15]

References

  1. ^ a b Kurti, Miftar (2002). Vrojtime historike (in Albanian). Faik Konica. pp. 71–72. Retrieved 2 September 2024.
  2. ^ a b c "A WEEK OF TERROR IN DRENICA". www.hrw.org. Retrieved 2023-11-25.
  3. ^ a b c "Kosovo rebels kill 3 Serbs". The Associated Press. 9 January 1999. p. 1.
  4. ^ a b c d e "KOSOVO REBELS KILL 3 SERB POLICE, SEIZE 8 SOLDIERS IN AMBUSHES". Chicago Tribune. 9 January 1999. p. 6.
  5. ^ a b c "Serb forces gear up after rebels kill 3 officers, seize 8 soldiers". Deseret News. The Associated Press. 9 January 1999. p. 6.
  6. ^ Smith, R. Jeffrey (1999-01-28). "SERBS TRIED TO COVER UP MASSACRE". Washington Post. ISSN 0190-8286. Retrieved 2023-11-25.
  7. ^ "CNN - Yugoslav army moves tanks into Kosovo villages - January 9, 1999". www.cnn.com. Retrieved 2023-11-29.
  8. ^ Eriksson, Mikael; Kostić, Roland (15 February 2013). Mediation and Liberal Peacebuilding: Peace from the Ashes of War?. Routledge. pp. 43–. ISBN 978-1-136-18916-6.
  9. ^ Perritt, Henry H. (2010-10-01). Kosovo Liberation Army: The Inside Story of an Insurgency. University of Illinois Press. p. 63. ISBN 978-0-252-09213-8.
  10. ^ Independent International Commission on Kosovo (2000). The Kosovo Report (PDF). Oxford: Oxford University Press. p. 2. ISBN 978-0199243099. Archived (PDF) from the original on 2022-04-11. Retrieved 2020-08-10.
  11. ^ Quackenbush, Stephen L. (2015). International Conflict: Logic and Evidence. Los Angeles: Sage. p. 202. ISBN 9781452240985. Archived from the original on 2023-01-11. Retrieved 2020-09-24.
  12. ^ "Roots of the Insurgency in Kosovo" (PDF). June 1999. Archived (PDF) from the original on 2021-06-25. Retrieved 2020-08-08.
  13. ^ a b "USAID/OFDA Kosovo Disaster Assistance Response Team (DART) Update January 11, 1999 - Albania | ReliefWeb". reliefweb.int. 1999-01-11. Retrieved 2023-10-15.
  14. ^ Bird, Chris (1999-01-09). "Rebel killings put Kosovo truce at risk". The Guardian. ISSN 0261-3077. Retrieved 2023-11-29.
  15. ^ Aertsen, Ivo; Arsovska, Jane; Vanspauwen, Kris; Valiñas, Marta; Rohne, Holger (2013). Restoring Justice After Large-scale Violent Conflicts - Kosovo, DR Congo and the Israeli-Palestinian Case. Willian Publishing. pp. 90–91. ISBN 978-1-84392-302-2.
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