Yugoslav offensive in Drenica (1999)

The Yugoslav offensive in Drenica, also known as the March 1999 offensive in Drenica was an offensive launched by the Yugoslav Army and the Serbian Police against the KLA in the Drenica region in late March 1999 during the Kosovo War.

 Background 
The Drenica region was a major stronghold of the Kosovo Liberation Army during and prior to the war. Skenderaj was a KLA stronghold, while the status of Drenas during the Conflict is disputed. Some sources state that Drenas was a KLA stronghold, while others claim that Yugoslav forces held the city of Drenas. After the Yugoslav September offensive and a previous offensive in Drenica, a ceasefire agreement was signed in October 1998 for a Yugoslav withdrawal from certain areas in Kosovo. The Kosovo Verification Mission was formed to Monitor parties' compliance with the agreement, Report any breaches to the OSCE, and to help affected civilians in Kosovo, report on roadblocks, oversee elections, ensure that independent and fair police service was set up. After the massacre in Reçak, peace negotiations started in Rambouillet, France The Kosovo Albanian side signed the agreement on 18 March 1999, however the refusal of the Yugoslav and Serbian side to sign the accords led to the withdrawal of the KVM from Kosovo and the start of the NATO bombing of Yugoslavia. After the KVM monitors left on 20 March, tensions escalated even more in Kosovo, especially in Drenica.

Events during the Offensive

20-27 March Start of the Yugoslav offensive
Following KLA attacks on police stations in Skenderaj and Lluzhan, the offensive began on 20 March when the Yugoslav forces attacked the village of Çikatovë e Vjeter to target KLA positions there. They advanced towards the area from the direction of the Feronikel Plant in Drenas. Çikatovë e Vjeter was captured by Yugoslav forces on 22 March. From 20 to 21 March, Yugoslav troops had targeted the KLA stronghold of Skenderaj, during the offensive on Skenderaj, 10 civilians were executed, despite the overwhelming attack, there were no reports of the City of Skenderaj switching hands. In late March, the Yugoslav forces had shelled villages in the Skenderaj Muncipality, leading to Albanian Civilians from many villages to flee to Çirez, the Yugoslav Army and Police then attacked the villages of Çirez, Izbica, Ozrim, Runik and Leçinë which they eventually entered and captured the areas. Civilians later fled into areas like Tushilë and Rakitnica, which were still under KLA control.

First Battle of Polac
On 22 March, two days after the KVM withdrew from Kosovo, fighting had taken place in the village of Polac. The KLA lost control over the village and withdrew from Polac, leading to the Temporary Yugoslav capture of Polac, while the nearby village of Prekaz was shelled by Serbian forces.

Battle of Banja
One day after the NATO bombing of Yugoslavia had begun, Yugoslav forces on 25 March 1999 had taken control of the village of Bajë after fighting with the KLA, which was predominantly inhabited by Serbs that time.

Padalishtë massacre
Serbian forces entered the village of Pemishtë/Padalishtë on 26 March and killed 19 Albanian civilians, all members of the Imeraj family, including 13 women and children.

Battle of Kladernica
After the Yugoslavs had succeeded in capturing Bajë, they moved onto the village of Klladërnica which they effectively surrounded. The village was captured on 27 March by Serbian forces. 3 KLA militants were killed in the Battle.

Defense of Rezalla, Marinë and Polluzhë
From 24 March 1999 to 15 May 1999, The Yugoslavs had repeatedly attacked the village of Rezallë. KLA Forces under Malush Ahmeti and Ilaz Dërguti led the defense of Rezallë. On 24 March 1999, at 8:10 p.m., after the first NATO attack on Yugoslavia began, directed at several military targets, the Yugoslav forces had begun to attack the KLA in the villages of Rezallë, Marinë and Polluzhe. The KLA forces, and especially the II and III companies of the 113th Brigade, defended the villages of Marinë, Rezallë, and Polluzhe. KLA forces were also joined by soldiers of the 114th Brigade, "Fehmi Lladrovci". On the same day, since 8:30 a.m., fighters like Alush Istogu and Murat Kukaj have been in positions in the village of Polluzhë. Even though the offensive ended on 31 March 1999, the Defense of Rezalla lasted until 15 May 1999, when the KLA successfully defended Rezalla and the surrounding villages and made it impossible for Serbian troops to penetrate or capture the area despite Malush Ahmeti‘s death after the March 1999 offensive during the clashes. Only one KLA fighter was killed during the Defense of Rezalla in March 1999.

KLA special operations in Drenas
Drenas police station attack
In 21 March 1999, KLA commander Besim Mala led an operation to assault the Police station in Drenas. The assault was a success and the KLA managed to significantly defy the Serbian forces in the City. The attack resulted in the deaths of 7 Serb policemen.

KLA attacks on the Feronikel plant
Besim Mala‘s forces also played a crucial role in attacks on Serbian positions at the "Feronikeli" Industrial Complex in Drenas, which acted as a Yugoslav base in the city. The attacks were vital in disrupting the logistical and operational capabilities of the Serbian forces in the region. These operations were characterized by swift and unexpected maneuvers that maximized the KLA's impact despite their limited resources. The attacks led to disrupting of Yugoslav operations in the Drenas area.

Izbica massacre
The shelling of the village of Izbica began during the night of 27 March when a group of at least fifty Yugoslav soldiers, policemen and paramilitaries entered the village. They wore both camouflage and dark blue or black uniforms, and carried long knives. Some wore ski masks and others had their faces blackened with greasepaint. On 28 March, nearly all of the adult men fled to the mountains, leaving mostly women, children, and old men in the village. In the field of Izbica, thousands of people were crowded that day, almost all women, children, and old people. Only about 150 men were among them. National security forces threatened to kill the villagers and demanded money. After they got the money, they separated the men from the women and children. Women and children were sent to Albania. The men were then executed with automatic weapons. Some women and old men were also executed in the village. In conclusion, 93-120 Kosovo Albanian civilians were killed. 

28-31 March End of the Offensive and Yugoslav withdrawal
After the massacre in Izbica, clashes continued in several other villages in Drenica, which included places like Polac, Prekaz, Abri, Likoc, Gradica and many other villages. Additional fighting occured in Negroc on 30 March, in which the KLA advised villagers to flee to safer areas like Vuçak and Terdec which were still under KLA control. By 31 March, the Yugoslavs had withdrawn from the villages they captured in Drenica and the KLA regained control over the villages they lost control of before and during the offensive, it also led to the return of some Albanian refugees.
Second Battle of Polac
From 28 to 31 March, a second Battle would occur in the village of Polac. The KLA regained Polac on 31 March when the Yugoslav forces had withdrawn from Drenica, including Polac. One KLA soldier, Metë Bajram Kastrati was killed during the Battle.
Battle of Prekaz (1999)
On 29 March, around 4 p.m., Yugoslav forces with armored vehicles advanced from the village of Polac toward the Kodra neighborhood in Prekaz. A group of about 10 KLA fighters quickly mobilized to resist the attack, engaging in close-range combat. Yugoslav forces engaged in close combat with the KLA and were overwhelming them with their artillery. KLA reinforcements from nearby areas and the other neighborhoods in Prekaz, including the Lushtaku, arrived and launched a counterattack against Yugoslav forces. This forced the Yugoslav forces to retreat back toward Polac, which was abandoned. 1 KLA soldier, Avdullah Kodra was killed, while 1 commander of the 114th Brigade "Fehmi Lladrovci", Avdyl Kodra and another soldier, Hajdin Kodra were wounded. The Yugoslavs suffered several losses and one combat vehicle was damaged.

 Casualties 
The KLA suffered 14 casualties in those battles according to the HLC‘s Kosovo Memory Book. While 2 KLA fighters, including one commander were wounded during the Battle in Prekaz. According to the HLC‘s Kosovo Memory Book, 12 Yugoslav soldiers and policemen were killed in Drenica, while another 7 policemen were killed in the Attack on the Police station in Drenas. However, Human Rights Watch suggests that prior to the massacres in Kosovo, including Drenica in March 1999, the Yugoslav and Serbian forces suffered heavy losses at the hands of the KLA. Around 93-130 Kosovar Albanian civilians were killed in Izbica, while 19 more were killed in Padalishtë. During the offensive on Skenderaj, 10 more civilians were executed.

 Aftermath 
After the offensive, many clashes would continue in Drenica, especially in Rezallë. The clashes lasted up until 30 May 1999, when the last major event in Drenica was the Ambush near Arllat, which resulted in the Death of Rasim Kiçina and some other KLA fighters. According to the Humanitarian Law Center, during the clashes in Drenica after the March 1999 offensive, 102 Yugoslav soldiers and Serb policemen were killed between April and May 1999, while 74 KLA militants died.

 References 

Category:Kosovo Liberation Army