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Battle of Orizare

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Battle of Orizare
Part of the 2001 insurgency in Macedonia
Date3 May – 11 June 2001
Location
Orizare, Macedonia
Result NLA victory
Belligerents
National Liberation Army  Macedonia
Commanders and leaders
Xhezair Shaqiri
Jakup Asipi
Beqir Sadiku		 Boris Trajkovski
North Macedonia Ljubčo Georgievski
Law enforcement in the Republic of Macedonia Ljube Boškoski
Army of the Republic of Macedonia Blagoja Markovski
Army of the Republic of Macedonia Siniša Stoilov †
Units involved
113th Brigade Army of the Republic of Macedonia Macedonian Army
Law enforcement in the Republic of Macedonia Macedonian Police
Macedonian Air force
Strength
17 insurgents[1] Army of the Republic of Macedonia Unknown
Army of the Republic of Macedonia T-55 Tanks
Army of the Republic of Macedonia Mi-24 gunships
Casualties and losses
Unknown Army of the Republic of Macedonia Unknown
Orizare Mosque destroyed by Macedonian shelling

The Battle of Orizare (Macedonian: Битката кај Оризаре, Albanian: Beteja e Orizares) was a military engagement between the Macedonian security forces and Albanian insurgents belonging to the National Liberation Army (NLA).

Battle

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On May 3, 2001, the NLA launched a three-pronged attack on the villages of Vaksince, Slupčane, and Orizare in the Kumanovo region,[2] which instigated an Immediate response by the Macedonian Army.[3] Macedonian Mil Mi-24 gunships and T-55 tanks were seen shooting at militant positions, trying to drive them out.

On May 8, 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.[4] 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, Matejce, Slupcane, Otlja, Orizare, and Vaskince 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 May 13, Mi-8 and Mi-24 attack helicopters approached over the hills of Macedonia and fired rockets at NLA positions. Macedonian army tanks then bombarded Orizare, during the bombardment the village mosque was destroyed. Macedonian soldiers later justified themselves by saying the Mosque was a "terrorist weapons depot".[9]

On May 18, tensions flared as the Macedonian Army broke an unofficial ceasefire, directing artillery fire toward rebel positions near the Kosovo border. The bombardment ceased after six volleys, suggesting a possible government commitment to exercise restraint against ethnic Albanian rebels. The artillery shells were directed at the villages of Slupčane, Orizare, and Vaksince in the Kumanovo region.[10]

On May 21, intense fighting unfolded between Macedonian security forces and NLA rebels. Macedonian tanks, artillery, and combat helicopters were actively engaged in operations against the NLA in a cluster of villages in northeastern Macedonia. The focal points of the Macedonian Army's efforts were concentrated on Vaksince and Slupčane.[11]

On May 28, Macedonian tanks and long-range artillery bombarded Orizare and Slupčane.[12][13] Blagoja Markovski, the Macedonian Defence Ministry spokesman, added that "fierce fighting" and "terrorist attacks" continued in Slupčane, Orizare, and Otlja. Markovski stated the next day that the military was determined to drive the NLA out of several villages near the border with Kosovo.[14]

On May 30, Macedonian combat helicopters engaged NLA positions, firing upon the villages of Slupčane, Orizare, and Matejče. Simultaneously, Macedonian artillery unleashed a barrage upon these villages. Despite these efforts, the army found itself making no progress.[15]

On June 3, the villages of Matejče, Otlja, Slupčane, and Orizare endured relentless bombardment throughout the day by long-range artillery.[16]

On the nights of June 5–6, heavy fighting occurred, primarily around the villages of Matejce, Otja, Slupcane, and Orizare.[17]

On June 10, Macedonian security forces intensified their operations, targeting the villages of Slupčane and Orizare during a three-day barrage. The onslaught involved the deployment of helicopter gunships, artillery, tanks, and heavy machine guns.[18]

On June 11, Macedonian state radio reported that the army had been ordered to suspend its military operations in the Kumanovo-Lipkovo region, effective at noon that day. The Macedonian army suspended its shelling of ethnic Albanian rebel positions following a morning of intense fighting. The radio further stated that the clashes around the villages of Slupčane, Orizare, and Matejče had subsided.[19]

References

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  1. ^ Бубевска, Александра (2006). Женската страна на приказната: лични приказни за кризата во Македонија, 2001 (in Macedonian). Evro-Balkan Press. ISBN 978-9989-136-46-7.
  2. ^ "New Offensive Against Rebels In Macedonia". The New York Times. Associated Press. 2001-05-04. ISSN 0362-4331. Retrieved 2023-11-28.
  3. ^ "Macedonia army begins offensive". 2001-05-03. Retrieved 2023-11-28.
  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. ^ Flottau, Renate (2001-05-13). "Gefährliche Fische". Der Spiegel (in German). ISSN 2195-1349. Retrieved 2023-11-28.
  10. ^ Jeffries, Ian (2002-05-16). The Former Yugoslavia at the Turn of the Twenty-First Century: A Guide to the Economies in Transition. Routledge. ISBN 978-1-134-46050-2.
  11. ^ Jeffries, Ian (2002-05-16). The Former Yugoslavia at the Turn of the Twenty-First Century: A Guide to the Economies in Transition. Routledge. ISBN 978-1-134-46050-2.
  12. ^ "CNN.com - Talks fail to heal Macedonian rift - May 28, 2001". edition.cnn.com. Retrieved 2023-11-28.
  13. ^ "CNN.com - Talks in Macedonia amid clashes - May 28, 2001". edition.cnn.com. Retrieved 2023-11-28.
  14. ^ Boundary and Security Bulletin. International Boundaries Research Unit, Department of Geography, University of Durham. 2001.
  15. ^ "Der Krieg in den Bergen wird zur alltäglichen Kulisse - WELT". DIE WELT (in German). 2011-11-16. Retrieved 2023-11-28.
  16. ^ "CNN.com - Macedonia to decentralise power - June 3, 2001". edition.cnn.com. Retrieved 2023-11-28.
  17. ^ "Renewed Macedonia violence provokes call for state of war - the Republic of North Macedonia | ReliefWeb". reliefweb.int. 2001-06-07. Retrieved 2023-11-28.
  18. ^ "CNN.com - Macedonia: Key targets threatened - June 10, 2001". edition.cnn.com. Retrieved 2023-11-28.
  19. ^ "Macedonia: Army Suspends Operations In Kumanovo-Lipkovo". Radio Free Europe/Radio Liberty. 2008-04-09. Retrieved 2023-11-28.
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