Battle of Tanuševci | |||||||||
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Part of the 2001 insurgency in Macedonia | |||||||||
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Belligerents | |||||||||
National Liberation Army | Macedonia | ||||||||
Commanders and leaders | |||||||||
Xhezair Shaqiri [2] | Unknown | ||||||||
Units involved | |||||||||
113th Brigade "Ismet Jashari" | Macedonian Army | ||||||||
Strength | |||||||||
100 insurgents [1] | Unknown | ||||||||
Casualties and losses | |||||||||
Unknown | Unknown |
The Battle of Tanuševci was the first gun battle between the National Liberation Army (NLA) and the Macedonian security forces in the insurgency in Macedonia. [3]
Rebels belonging to the National Liberation Army (NLA) attacked Tearce's police station, resulting in the death of one policeman and injuries to three others. This incident ultimately triggered the 2001 Insurgency in Macedonia. [4]
The village of Tanuševci became involved in conflict on 17 February 2001, when masked NLA militants entered the area and kidnapped a TV filming crew. [5] [6] In response, Macedonian police attempted to enter the village on the same day but were met with fierce gunfire from the NLA militants, sparking the beginning of the battle in the village. [7] On February 26, 2001, Macedonian forces engaged in battle with the NLA that lasted for several hours. Ultimately, the Macedonian forces succeeded in forcing the NLA to retreat across the border into Kosovo. [8] [9] Shortly after their retreat to Kosovo, the NLA made another attempt to gain control over the village once more and as of 1 March 2001, the NLA expelled the Macedonian forces and established control over Tanuševci. [10] [1]
On 2 March, NATO provided reassurances to Macedonia, stating that it was actively monitoring the activities of a group of approximately 100 ethnic Albanian insurgents who had taken control of the village of Tanusevci after the Battle. Additionally, NATO restated its commitment to the matter. [1]
On 4 March, NLA insurgents ambushed Macedonian troops near Tanuševci. A police vehicle ran over a mine, killing two Macedonian policemen. The rebels opened fire at army forces, resulting in the death of one soldier. [11] [12] [10] [13] [14]
Xhezair Shaqiri (Commander Hoxha), who led the first NLA group into Tanusche village in mid-February 2001, have challenged the views of Ahmeti and others about some events.
Macedonia yesterday [1 March] ratified a long-awaited border treaty with Serbia, in spite of tensions over the occupation of a mountain village by ethnic Albanian extremists from Kosovo. The takeover at Tanusevci, close to the border with Serbia, poses the most serious threat to Macedonia's stability since the Kosovo conflict …