Attacks on Ponoševac

Part of the Kosovo War

Fragments of Ponoshec culture in the ruins
| Date| 3-6 May 1998

|

Location|

Ponoševac, Djakovica, FR Yugoslavia

Result|  Inconclusive[2]
Belligerents
Yugoslavia|  Kosovo Liberation Army
Mujahideen[1]
Commanders and leaders
unknown|  Rezak Alija
Hasan Alija
Shaban Dula
Units involved
MUP|  Kosovo Liberation Army
Strength
50 police officers|  200 soldiers
Casualties and losses

7 wounded police officers
1 police truck destroyed[3]

1 Serbian officer killed[4]|

2 KLA soldiers killed and 2 wounded [5]

1 Mujahideen killed

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Kosovo War

Prelude

* Insurgency in Kosovo
* First Attack on Prekaz
* Attacks on Likoshane and Çirez

Wartime events

* Prekaz
* UNSCR 1160
* Albanian–Yugoslav border ambush
* Anadrinë
* Lapušnik prison camp
* Belaćevac Mine
* Summer offensive
* Ljubenić mass graves
* Lođa
* 1st Albanian–Yugoslav border
* Klečka killings
* Orahovac
* Junik
* Lake Radonjić massacre
* Glodjane
* UNSCR 1199
* Central Drenica
* Gornje Obrinje massacre
* UNSCR 1203
* UNSCR 1207
* Battle of Jezerc
* 2nd Albanian–Yugoslav border
* 3rd Albanian–Yugoslav border
* Panda Bar massacre
* Podujevo
* Ambush near Suva Reka
* Račak fighting (1999)
* Račak massacre
* Battle of Rogovo
* Allied Force
* F-117A shoot-down
* Novi Sad blitz
* Bela Crkva massacre
* Batajnica
* Krusha massacres
* Suva Reka massacre
* Izbica massacre
* Drenica massacres
* Pastasel massacre
* 4th Albanian-Yugoslav border
* Battle of Košare
* Battle of Paštrik
* Grdelica
* Gjakova
* Meja ambush
* RTS headquarters
* Meja massacre
* Yugoslav Ministry of Defence
* Lužane bus bombing
* Varvarin bridge bombing
* Vushtrri massacre
* Niš cluster bombing
* Chinese embassy
* Koriša bombing
* Ćuška massacre

Aftermath

* Pristina airport
* Prizren
* Zhegër
* Staro Gracko massacre
* Gnjilane killings
* Ranilug
* 2000 unrest
* Podujevo bus bombing
* Goraždevac murders

Aspects

* War crimes
* Mass graves: Batajnica mass graves, Rudnica mass grave, Ugljare mass grave, Mališevo mass grave
* Destruction of heritage (Albanian · Serbian)

Between 3 and 6 May 1998, the village of Ponoševac was the site of a clash fought between the forces of the Kosovo Liberation Army (KLA) and the Yugoslav police (MUP) during the Kosovo War.

## Background

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Weapons for Kosovo Liberation Army (KLA) members were distributed at the mosque in Ponoševac. In that direction there are passes up to 650 meters high, easy and suitable for incursions from Albania, until the border patrols of the Yugoslav Army closed that part of the border. On the Albanian side were the two largest KLA training bases, in Kukës and Kojel. The KLA had the initiative in this area, so small groups of police officers could safely move around Ponoševac only during the day, and only in police convoys and armored vehicles. There were about 200 KLA soldiers in the village, whose commander was Rezak Alija, and his deputy was Hasan Alija.[2]

## Attacks

[edit]

Around 10:30 a.m. on May 3, a police patrol in Ponoševac detained a local Albanian. A house in the village opened fire on the patrol, wounding two police officers. A little later, the police station itself, located in the center of the village, was attacked by a much larger force of KLA. The blocked police officers requested reinforcements from Djakovica in order to defend the station and save the lives of the wounded. Reinforcements also arrived for the attackers, and the fighting continued through the night and throughout 4 May.[6]

Yugoslav forces were repelled from Albanian homes and ran back to the police station where they barricaded themselves inside. The police station was attacked by the KLA whilst Yugoslav forces waited for reinforcements.[7]

Journalistic teams did not have access to the region for security reasons. One reporter who managed to reach Ponoševac on 5 May saw a police pickup truck blown up by a gunfier on a local road. He met a Yugoslav officer who told him to leave the area.[2][6][8][9]

> "Thank you for coming, but you will have to leave immediately. This is a combat zone. Be careful. Terrorists are positioned along the road at the entrance and exit of the village. Look at this armored personnel carrier that was hit by a rocket launcher. Five of our people were injured, one of whom is in critical condition. This could happen to you too."

Yugolsv police officer

On that day, the Yugoslav police announced that they were in full control of Ponoševac and that about 200 KLA members were in the encirclement the day before its capture. The following day, on 6 May, it was announced that the KLA group had been defeated and had retreated to the hills and surrounding villages.[2][10][11][12]

These claims by the Serbian authorities, however, have been deemed as untrue. After Yugoslav forces reported to have won and the fighting to have stopped, artillery and mortar fire could still be heard.[13] The Kosovo Information Centre (KIC) denied Reuters reports that a group of 200 armed Albanians were surrounded by the police in Ponoševac.[14]

## References

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1. ^ Israeli, Raphael; Dimitrovska, Ana (2021). Political, Social and Religious Studies of the Balkans: Volume II – Radical Islam in the Western Balkans. Strategic Book Publishing & Rights Agency. p. 229\. ISBN 9781682353868.
2. ^ a b c d Anastasijevic, Dejan (8 May 1998). "1998/05/08 21:13 SPANSKO SELO PONOSEVAC". www.aimpress.ch. Retrieved 2025-02-24. "but when things are analyzed a little, the skirmish in Ponosevac could hardly be described as a great success for the MUP. In fact, it would be more likely that it was the other way around... Members of the UCK, in full uniform and armed, could be seen in broad daylight less than a kilometer from the aforementioned station. The presence of several military bases in the immediate vicinity (Ponosevac is only a few kilometers from the border), nor the additional police forces stationed in Djakovica, does not help."
3. ^ Anastasijevic, Dejan (9 May 1998). "The Battle of Ponosevac". Vreme News Digest.
4. ^ "Kosovska knjiga pamćenja". Kosovska knjiga pamćenja.
5. ^ "Ja si nisi Lufta para 20 vitesh në Ponoshec të Gjakovës (Foto)". Epoka e Re (in Albanian).
6. ^ a b "Fighting rages in Kosovo as Albania warns of war - Albania". ReliefWeb. 1998-05-04. Retrieved 2025-02-24.
7. ^ Dejan Anastasijević (8 May 1998). "Kosovo Crisis: Diplomatic Efforts and Escalating Tensions". Belgrade: AIM.
8. ^ "Magazin NIN - 2471, 05 MAJ 1998". www.nin.rs. Retrieved 2025-02-24.
9. ^ "Serbian-Albanian Clash". The New York Times. Associated Press. 1998-05-05. ISSN 0362-4331. Retrieved 2025-02-24.
10. ^ "SPANSKO SELO PONOSEVAC". AIMPRESS. Retrieved 2025-02-24.
11. ^ "Kosovo: The Battle of Ponosevac". Transitions. 1998-05-09. Retrieved 2025-02-24.
12. ^ "The Battle of Ponosevac | Vreme NDA". serbiandigest.libraries.rutgers.edu. Rutgers University. Retrieved 2025-02-24.
13. ^ Judah, Tim (2002). Kosovo: War and Revenge. Yale University Press. p. 158\. ISBN 9780300097252.
14. ^ "Kosovo: Dijalog Ili Rat". NIN. 5 May 1998.

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