Battle of Paštrik

The Battle of Paštrik was a two-week confrontation between the KLA with NATO's support against the Federal Republic of Yugoslavia in 1999, during the Kosovo War. The official goal of the KLA was to seize the border between Albania and Kosovo, and eliminate the Yugoslav units there. The offensive was codenamed "Operation Arrow" by the KLA.

Battle of Paštrik
Part of the Kosovo War

Mount Paštrik view from Prizren
Date26 May–10 June 1999
Location
Paštrik, Kosovo, FR Yugoslavia (FR Yugoslav-Albanian border)
42°12′38″N 20°31′24″E
Result

Kumanovo Agreement

  • Tactical stalemate
  • KLA forces capture Mount Paštrik
Belligerents

KLA
NATO
Artillery support:
 Albania

Medical support:
 Norway		 Yugoslav Army
Commanders and leaders
Agim Çeku
Bilall Syla
Ekrem Rexha
Sadik Halitjaha
Tahir Sinani
Beqir Sadiku
Kudusi Lama
Wesley Clark		 Nebojša Pavković
Vladimir Lazarević
Božidar Delić
Stojan Konjikovac
Units involved
121st Brigade "Ismet Jashari"
123rd Brigade
Kukës Division		 Priština Corps Units 549th Motorized Brigade
72nd special Airborne Brigade
Russian volunteers
Strength
Around 1,200 men
B-52, A-10 and Lockheed AC-130 units
Artillery support		 2,000+ men
Multiple tank and artillery battalions
Air defence battalions (Reinforcements during battle)
Casualties and losses
16 killed, 40 wounded 25 killed, 126 wounded
NATO claims: 32 artillery pieces, 9 armored personal carriers, 6 armored vehicles, 4 other military vehicles, 8 mortar positions and one SA6 surface to air missile
Paštrik
Location of Paštrik in Kosovo

KLA fighters managed to seize Mount Paštrik, its northern slopes and the village of Milaj, on the northern bank of the White Drin by the end of May. In spite of heavy NATO air support, which included the use of USAF B-52 bombers, the Yugoslav Army held the line on the White Drin, where they build temporary bridges to maintain their supply lines open, supported by heavy mortars and artillery. The KLA took over the villages of Planeja, Bucare and Ljumbarda and a stretch of the border area northwest of Prizren, but was unable to make further gains by the time of the Kumanovo Agreement on 9 June, which resulted in Yugoslav troops withdrawing from Kosovo.

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