Llapusha-South Drenica Front

Llapusha-South Drenica Front
Part of the Kosovo War
Statue of Ismet Jashari
Date Late March - December 1998 Location Llapusha and south Drenica Result Inconclusive Territorial changes KLA captures Blinaja, Fushtica, Terpeza, Bllaca, Shtëpia e Pylltarit, Ura e Sahitit, Belinc, most of southern Drenica, and most of Llapusha Yugoslav forces capture Klečka, the Duhla Pass, Lapušnik, Zborc, the Carraleva Gorge, and Lužnica.
Belligerents
Kosovo Liberation Army	FR Yugoslavia
Commanders and leaders
Ismet Jashari † Fatmir Limaj Isak Musliu Ymer Alushani † Kadri Veseli	Goran Radosavljević Sreten Lukić
Units involved
121st Brigade “Çeliku”	Yugoslav Army Police of Serbia
Casualties and losses
55 killed	KLA claim: 69 soldiers and police officers killed 1 BOV destroyed 1 transport truck destroyed 1 T-55 destroyed HLC claim: 3 policemen killed

The Llapusha-South Drenica Front (Albanian: Fronti i Llapushës dhe Drenicës Jugore; Serbian: Лапушничко-Јужно Дренички Фронт, romanized: Lapušničko-Južno Drenički Front) was fought during the Kosovo War between the Kosovo Liberation Army (KLA) and the Yugoslav Army and Yugoslav Police. The Llapusha Front was in the Llapusha region and in southern Drenica of Kosovo, and lasted from late March 1998 until December 1998.

The 121st brigade, known as "Çeliku," within the KLA, engaged in numerous battles against Yugoslav forces. These encounters often ended in success for the KLA, resulting in the capture of several strategic sites, including Blinaja, Fushtica, Terpeza, Bllaca, Shtëpia e Pylltarit, Ura e Sahitit, Belinc, the majority of southern Drenica, and much of Llapusha.

In response, Yugoslav forces launched multiple offensives targeting KLA strategic locations, leading to the capture of sites such as Llapushnik, the Duhla Pass, Zborc, Klečka, Lužnica, and the Carraleva Gorge, which subsequently fell under the control of the Yugoslav army and police.

Operations in Klina and Dukagjin

In April 1998, Ismet Jashari led KLA operations in Klina and Dukagjin against Yugoslav forces. The KLA operations were successful. Ismet Jashari set off to return to Klečka.

Ambush on Ismet Jashari

In April 1998, Ismet Jashari was ambushed by Yugoslav forces between the villages of Volljakë and Çupevë, while he was returning to Kleçka from leading military operations in Klina and Dukagjin. Ismet Jashari survived the ambush, but was wounded in both legs.

Battle of Llapushnik

After the ambush in April, Ismet Jashari with Fatmir Limaj, Isak Musliu, Ymer Alushani, and Kadri Veseli led their forces into Llapushnik, where he defeated the Yugoslav Army and police and captured the town. Ymer Alushani was killed in action.

Battle of Carraleva Gorge

After occupying Llapushnik, Ismet Jashari led further operations against Yugoslav forces, defeating them in multiple battles and capturing the strategically important site of the Carraleva Gorge.

Battle of Duhla Pass

Ismet Jashari led further operations against Yugoslav forces, defeating them in multiple battles and capturing the strategically important site of the Duhla Pass. From the beginning of May to August 1998, Ismet Jashari reinforced strategic sites in southern Drenica, Llapushnik and the Duhla Pass for an upcoming Yugoslav Offensive.

Yugoslav offensive in June

On 14 June 1998, Yugoslav forces attacked and captured the Carraleva Gorge and the Duhla Pass, held by the KLA. Three days later the KLA counterattacked the Yugoslav army, who were preparing to penetrate towards Luzhnica. The KLA recaptured the Carraleva Gorge, forcing the Yugoslav army to withdraw back to their positions in the Duhla Pass.

Bllace Attack

On June 25, 1998, in Bllace, soldiers of the 121st brigade, led by Agim Çelaj and Ismet Jashari, strategically positioned on a hill, successfully destroyed a Yugoslav BOV. By the end of June 1998, Ismet Jashari had reinforced his positions in Carraleva, Zborca, Blinaja, Fushtica, Terpeza, and across the territories under KLA control in southern Drenica and Llapusha.

Yugoslav Summer offensive

During a major Yugoslav offensive on 25 and 26 July 1998, Ismet Jashari's forces fought battles with the Yugoslav army in Llapushnik, Zborc and the Carraleva Gorge, but were not able to hold these strategic sites.

Major KLA offensive in August

In August 1998, Ismet Jashari attacked and defeated Yugoslav army units at several occasions, such as in Shtëpia e Pylltarit, Ura e Sahitit and in the village of Belinc.

Battle of Lužnica and Klečka

On 23 August 1998, Yugoslav forces marched towards Kleçka, where the General Staff of the KLA was also located, but were met by Ismet Jashari's forces in Luzhnica, who held off the Yugoslav army from penetrating towards Kleçka for an entire day, while being heavily outnumbered. On 24 August 1998, the Yugoslav army had increased their offensive by attacking Ismet Jashari's forces with large-caliber artillery and surface-to-surface missiles, ultimately succeeding in driving the KLA out of Luzhnica and capturing Kleçka. One day later on 25 August, Ismet Jashari had launched a surprise counterattack in an attempt to retrieve the bodies of the fallen soldiers. After several hours of close combat in Luzhnica, Ismet Jashari fell in battle.