The Albanian–Yugoslav border conflict was a series of armed clashes and cross-border incursions along the border between Albania and the Federal Republic of Yugoslavia during the Kosovo War from 1998 to 1999. The fighting primarily involved Yugoslav Army and Serbian police forces against the Kosovo Liberation Army (KLA), which operated from bases and supply routes in northern Albania; direct clashes between Yugoslav and Albanian forces also occurred in 1999.

Background In 1996, a group of Albanian nationalists called the Kosovo Liberation Army (KLA) began attacking the Yugoslav Army and the Serbian Ministry of Internal Affairs in Kosovo. Their goal was to separate the province from the rest of Yugoslavia, which had turned into a rump federation after the multiple separatist movements during the Yugoslav wars and now only consisted of Serbia and Montenegro. Initially, the KLA only carried out hit-and-run attacks (31 in 1996, 55 in 1997, and 66 in January and February 1998 alone)Judah, p. 137 however it quickly gained popularity among young Kosovar Albanians, many of whom were against the non-violent resistance to the Yugoslav authorities advocated by politician Ibrahim Rugova and preferred a more aggressive approach. The organization would receive a significant boost in 1997, when an armed uprising occurred in neighbouring Albania which led to thousands of weapons from the depots of the Albanian Army being looted. Many of these weapons would end up in the hands of the KLA.Judah, pp. x, 127–30 Cross-border arms smuggling peaked; the unit charged with securing the Yugoslav border was the 549th Motorized Prizren Brigade, commanded by General Božidar Delić.

The KLA's popularity received a massive boost after the VJ and MUP attacked the compound of KLA leader Adem Jashari in Prekaz, in March 1998, killing him, his closest associates and most of his family. The attack motivated thousands of young Kosovar Albanians to join the KLA, fueling the Kosovar uprising that eventually erupted in the spring of 1998.Judah, pp. 138–41

Events April 23, 1998, Albanian–Yugoslav border ambush

On 23 April 1998, at 5:45, the 53rd border Battalion encountered a group of 150-200 KLA insurgents near the Košare border post, Deçan, who were attempting to smuggle weapons from Albania. Armed with howitzers and rocket launchers, the Yugoslav army ambushed the militants, leading to a fierce clash breaking out, with the fighting lasting the whole night. After the fighting, 19 militants were killed, 1 was injured and 2 were captured. The remaining militants escaped the ambush and fled back to Albania. On the other hand, the Yugoslav forces suffered no reported casualties, despite being outnumbered.

The next day after the ambush, the residents of the village of Botushë reported artillery fire and helicopters flying ahead.

Attacks near Gorožup On 26 April 1998, a Yugoslav border patrol were attacked by about 10 KLA insurgents in the vicinity of Gorožup. Clashes followed, and the group fled back to Albania leaving about 20 cases of ammunition.

July 18, 1998, Albanian–Yugoslav border clashes

On 18 July 1998, a group of KLA insurgents together with a small group of mujahedeen (most of which were civilians from Saudi Arabia) crossed the border between Albania and Yugoslavia before being ambushed by the 53rd border battalion. The insurgents were smuggling weapons to Kosovo, some claims suggest that they were trying to reinforce their forces in Orahovac. Estimates on the number of KLA fighters vary, Human Rights Watch claimed that there were around 200 KLA insurgents together with 24 mujahedeen, the political scientist David L. Phillips and diplomat Nicholas Burns state that there were 22 mujahideen and 300 KLA fighters, Tim Judah, a journalist specializing in the Balkans, believes that the group may have been made up of as many as 700 militants,Judah, p. 169 and the VJ stated that there were up to 1000 militants. In the ensuing fight 4 KLA fighters would be killed together with 18 mujahedeen, while the other militants would escape. 1 Yugoslav soldier was heavily wounded and another was lightly wounded.Abrahams, p. 263 A large stash of guns dropped by the KLA during their retreat would be seized by Yugoslav forces.

Albanian-Yugoslav border shelling The next day on 19 July 1998, the Yugoslav forces shelled KLA insurgents near the Albanian border. Initial reports claimed that 30 KLA militants were killed, however later reports revealed that there were no deaths, however 31 KLA militants were injured.

Battle of Opljaz On 9 August 1998, the KLA's 138th brigade commanded by Agim Ramadani led an operation in the village of Oplazë (romanized: "Opljaz") on the Albanian-Yugoslav border. The operation was a KLA success with 17-20 Yugoslav soldiers being killed, including 2 Yugoslav army officers. The KLA reported no casualties.

Operation in Gjeravica On 15 September 1998 the 138th brigade led by Agim Ramadani led another operation on the Albanian-Yugoslav border. The operation was carried out in areas in and near Mt.Gjeravica where the KLA killed 40 Yugoslav soldiers and injured another 20.

Operation Fenix

On 30 September 1998, the KLA's 138th brigade led by Agim Ramadani, composed of 30 soldiers, carried out an operation near the Albanian-Yugoslav border codenamed "Operation Fenix". The militants laid anti-tank mines on the ground, leading to a Yugoslav tank running one over. The mine exploded, leading to 1 soldier being killed and 4 being injured. The Yugoslav army quickly brought in a helicopter to rescue the injured troops, however it was fired upon by the militants. Shortly after, another ambush was carried near the Košare outpost, where the KLA fired upon Yugoslav armored vehicles, killing 5 soldiers and wounding 2 as well as destroying a Yugoslav BOV and damaging a Yugoslav Pinzgauer. The KLA then robbed the dead corpses. Another helicopter came down to the "ambush-scene" but was instantly fired upon and retreated.

December 3, 1998, Albanian–Yugoslav border clash

On the 3rd of December 1998, a Yugoslav border guard was fired upon by a group of 9 KLA insurgents. In the returning fire, the Yugoslav forces killed 8 of the militants, while the 9th escaped. This was the most serious war incident in the Kosovo War since a truce had been negotiated a month and a half earlier.

December 14, 1998, Albanian–Yugoslav border ambush

In the morning of 14 December 1998, a group of 140 armed KLA militants led by Mujë Krasniqi were attempting to smuggle weapons into Kosovo through Albania, however they were ambushed between Goroždup and Liken, in Kušnin. The militants were returning from a military training base in North Albania. After the initial ambush the battle would last the whole night. By the end of the battle 36 militants would be killed, 12 would be wounded and another 9 would be captured. According to Albanian sources 41 militants would be killed, including Mujë Krasniqi. The Yugoslav forces suffered no casualties.Judah, p. 191Debora Charles-Kosovo Fighters Died Smuggling Weapons. (December 15, 1998)

Battle of Košare

On 9 April 1999, at 03:00, an artillery barrage by the KLA began from the Albanian side of the border, aimed in the direction of the Košare military outpost, which was occupied by the Yugoslav Army, leading to the start of the Battle of Košare, one of the bloodiest battles of the war. The Albanians then attacked the Yugoslabs in three directions, towards Rrasa e Koshares, the well-defended Košare outpost and towards Maja Glava. Approximately 136 KLA soldiers crossed the border and attacked Yugoslav positions. At that time less than 200 members of the Yugoslav Army were stationed at the front line. The heavy fighting ensued and lasted the whole day with 4 dead and 1 wounded on the Albanian side and 23 dead on the Yugoslav side. Eventually, the KLA seized the peak of Rrasa e Koshares and immediately began entrenching themselves. Serbian reports claimed that the KLA insurgents had received assistance from British, French, German and Italian special forces.

The battle continued until the next morning on 10 April. With artillery support, the KLA captured Maja Glava and continued to bombard the Košare Outpost, which resulted in the Yugoslav soldiers having to withdraw from their posts. At 19:00, members of the KLA entered the abandoned outpost and CNN and the British BBC broadcast images of a great number of KLA militants entering the outpost.

Members of the Yugoslav Forces would then retreat towards the second line of defense above the outpost, with the positions being easier to defend. On the 11th, Yugoslav reserve troops arrived to help the First Army. One group of KLA soldiers managed to cut the Yugoslav communication line and managed to destroy one BOV armoured personnel carrier. During the night, the KLA attacked the Yugoslav Army at Opljaz, with an attempt to shatter the resistance of the Yugoslav soldiers, but all of their attacks were unsuccessful and resulted in the Yugoslav Army inflicting heavy losses on the KLA insurgents. Meanwhile, the Yugoslavs managed to bring in reinforcements, including Special Forces and also a few artillery pieces.

Yugoslav counter-offensive on Maja Glava

The Albanian Army and KLA artillery, stationed at Maja Glava and Rrasa e Koshares continued to shell the Yugoslav positions. The Yugoslav Army Headquarters decided to launch a sudden surprise attack on the enemy. On 14 April, Yugoslav troops attacked Maja Glava. The distance between the two enemy trenches was not longer than 50 meters. The Yugoslav Army was unable to fully take Maja Glava completely, but they prevented the Albanian artillery from engaging them from their positions. The fighting in Maja Glava was stabilized until the end of the war, without any changes on the lines. Both sides suffered heavy casualties

KLA attack on Rrasa e Koshares During the day, Hisen Berisha reached the Košare outpost to meet with other KLA fighters. At dusk, the KLA fighters split into two groups before opening fire on the direction of Yugoslav forces, in an attempt to draw fire from them and to identify their positions. Fierce fighting continued until the morning, with the KLA claiming to have killed 47 Yugoslav soldiers, while losing 7 of their own.

Yugoslav offensive on Rrasa e Koshares The month of May saw several unsuccessful attacks by the Yugoslav Army to take back the Košare outpost. The attacks were made unsuccessful due to constant artillery fire hitting their positions. On 6 May, the Yugoslav Army led a counterattack at Rrasa e Koshares, in an effort to halt the Albanian artillery bombardment. A bloody skirmish ensued, with the Yugoslav Army not managing to take Rrasa e Koshares. On 10 May, the Yugoslav Army sent two T-55 tanks to help aid the offensive. When the tanks penetrated the KLA's lines, they advanced over 100 meters into insurgent-held territory, but the KLA managed to retain control of the peak. During the night of 10/11 May, NATO bombers dropped dozens of bombs on Yugoslav troops which had attacked KLA positions around Rrasa e Koshares. At least in two of these instances NATO dropped cluster bombs on Yugoslav troops. In these attacks, NATO killed 8 Yugoslav soldiers and 1 officer and managed to wound over 40. The KLA used the opportunity to attack the Yugoslav soldiers and push them out of their positions and forced them back.

KLA attack near Junik