Operation Return (2001)

Operation Return was an operation carried by the FR Yugoslavia against the UÇPMB during the insurgency in the Preševo Valley. It resulted in a decisive victory for the Yugoslav forces and the annexation of the Demilitarized Zone on the Serb-Kosovar border.

Operation Return
Part of the Insurgency in the Preševo Valley

A map of the Eastern part of the Ground Safetu Zone (UÇPMB-controlled territory peak up to the yellow line)
Date14 March 2001 – 1 June 2001
Location
Result

Yugoslav victory, Končulj Agreement

Territorial
changes
FR Yugoslavia regains control of demilitarized Ground Safety Zone
Belligerents
UÇPMB  FR Yugoslavia
Commanders and leaders
Muhamet Xhemajl Surrendered
Ridvan Qazimi [a]
Shaqir Shaqiri Surrendered
Mustafa Shaqiri Surrendered
Federal Republic of Yugoslavia Ninoslav Krstić
Federal Republic of Yugoslavia Goran Radosavljević
Federal Republic of Yugoslavia Nebojša Čović
Strength
1,600 militants[1] Serbia and Montenegro 3,500 personnel[2]
Logo of the JSO 100 JSO members[3]
Casualties and losses
300[4]-350[2] soldiers surrendered Serbia and Montenegro 1+ armored carrier damaged[4]

Aftermath edit

After the Presevo valley conflict, low intensity skirmishes happened occasionally with the most recent one being in 2014 by a suspected Wahhabi member on the Serbian Gendarmery.

Those skirmishes eventually led to the Crisis in the Preševo valley.

Notes edit

  1. ^ Died in the Battle of Cerevajka.

References edit

  1. ^ "Kosovo rebels accept peace talks". BBC News. 7 February 2001. Archived from the original on 22 February 2014.
  2. ^ a b "The FRY Army conducts Operation Bravo (translated)". Russian service (in Russian). 2001-05-24. Retrieved 2024-05-16.
  3. ^ "Da li je vreme za združene snage na jugu Srbije".
  4. ^ a b "Yugoslavia began sending security forces into the buffer zone at the border between Serbia and Kosovo (translated)". 1tv.ru (in Russian). 2001-05-24. Archived from the original on 2014-08-14. Retrieved 2024-05-16.