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Lipkovo crisis

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The Lipkovo crisis (Macedonian:Липковска криза, Albanian: Kriza e Likovës) was a crisis invloving Macedonian security forces and Albanian insurgents from the National Liberation Army (NLA).[1][2][3]

Lipkovo crisis
Part of the 2001 insurgency in Macedonia
File:LIKOVADIGE.jpg
Members of the Skenderbeg special unit in front of the Lipkovo dam
Date28 March–11 June 2001
Location
Lipkovo, Republic of Macedonia
Result

NLA victory

  • Macedonian forces withdraw[4]
  • All Macedonian military operations in the Kumanovo-Lipkovo region ceased[5]
  • NLA captures Lipkovo dam, which caused a week-long water crisis[1]
Belligerents
National Liberation Army North Macedonia Republic of Macedonia
Commanders and leaders
Nazmi Sulejmani
Lefter Koxhaj
Avdil Jakupi
Xhezair Shaqiri		 Boris Trajkovski
Ljubčo Georgievski
Army of the Republic of Macedonia Pande Petrovski
Law enforcement in the Republic of Macedonia Ljube Boškoski
Units involved
113th Brigade "Ismet Jashari"
Skanderbeg special unit		 Army of the Republic of Macedonia Macedonian Army
Law enforcement in the Republic of Macedonia Macedonian Police
"Tigar" Special Police Unit
Casualties and losses
Unknown North Macedonia 13 killed[6]

Battle

Fighting in Lipkovo began on March 28, 2001, with loud explosions that could be heard from the vicinity of the village.[7] The conflict primarily centered around the strategically important lake in the area.[1] On May 3, 2001, the NLA infiltrated Lipkovo and neighboring villages, triggering a Macedonian offensive. However, the offensive was later halted as the NLA showed no signs of withdrawing.[8][9] Unlike the other villages, Lipkovo remained relatively calm from May 8 to June 2, 2001.[10] Nevertheless, heavy fighting escalated when the NLA launched an attack on Macedonian forces defending the Lipkovo Dam, resulting in the NLA gaining control of the dam.[11][1] This NLA takeover of the crucial Lake Lipkovo, which supplied water to over 100,000 inhabitants of Kumanovo, prompted an immediate Macedonian response. On June 11, an offensive was launched with the aim of retaking the dam.[1][11] However, Macedonian forces announced later that same day that they had ceased all operations in the Lipkovo region.[12]

References

  1. ^ a b c d e Dhimgjoka, Merita (2001-06-12). "Macedonia, Rebels Halt Fighting". The Washington Post.
  2. ^ Phillips, John (2004-01-01). Macedonia: Warlords and Rebels in the Balkans. Yale University Press. ISBN 978-0-300-10268-0.
  3. ^ "Macedonia: Army Suspends Operations In Kumanovo-Lipkovo". Radio Free Europe/Radio Liberty. 2008-04-09. Retrieved 2023-05-21.
  4. ^ Phillips, John (2004-01-01). Macedonia: Warlords and Rebels in the Balkans. Yale University Press. p. 113. ISBN 978-0-300-10268-0. In late May, government forces registered their first success with the recapture of Vaksince, which was visited by Ljube Boskovski, the Interior Minister. Government forces were supposed to resume their attack on the villages of Slupcane, Lipkovo and Matejce, but the offensive stalled when a special forces unit mutinied and had to be withdrawn from the front line.
  5. ^ "Macedonia: Army Suspends Operations In Kumanovo-Lipkovo". Radio Free Europe/Radio Liberty. 2008-04-09. Retrieved 2023-05-21.
  6. ^ https://reliefweb.int/report/former-yugoslav-republic-macedonia/macedonia-resumes-offensive-against-rebels
  7. ^ Gall, Carlotta (2001-03-28). "Macedonia Attempts to Rout Rebels Before Talks". The New York Times. ISSN 0362-4331. Retrieved 2023-07-11.
  8. ^ "CNN.com - Macedonia bombards rebel positions - May 4, 2001". edition.cnn.com. Retrieved 2023-07-11.
  9. ^ Steele, Jonathan; Slupcane, Nicholas Wood near; Macedonia (2001-05-08). "Macedonia pulls back from brink of declaring war". The Guardian. ISSN 0261-3077. Retrieved 2023-07-11.
  10. ^ "CNN.com - Macedonia troops battle for village - June 2, 2001". edition.cnn.com. Retrieved 2023-07-11.
  11. ^ a b Staff (2001-06-11). "Macedonian government launches new attack on rebels". The Guardian. ISSN 0261-3077. Retrieved 2023-07-11.
  12. ^ "Macedonia: Army Suspends Operations In Kumanovo-Lipkovo". Radio Free Europe/Radio Liberty. 2008-04-09. Retrieved 2023-07-11.
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