The Battle of Slupčane (Macedonian: Битка за Слупчане, Albanian: Beteja e Sllupçanit) was a military confrontation between the Macedonian security forces and Albanian insurgents belonging to the National Liberation Army (NLA), which at the time, was launching a campaign of guerrilla attacks against facilities of the Macedonian Government, the Macedonian Police force, and the Macedonian Armed Forces. The NLA was victorious, in part due to the withdrawal of Macedonian forces[12] and suspension of all military operations in Kumanovo–Lipkovo region so that international officials could inspect the water supply.[13]
Battle
Initial NLA attack and Macedonian response
On 3 May 2001, the NLA infiltrated the villages of Slupčane and Vaksince, killing two Macedonian soldiers and capturing another one.[14][15][16][17] This caused an almost immediate response by the Macedonian government, who launched an assault against the NLA in Slupčane and Vaksince.[17][16][18] The Macedonian Army used Mil Mi-24s and tanks with the goal of driving the NLA out of Slupčane.[19][5] However, the advance stalled when the NLA was not showing any signs of withdrawal.[19] According to a NLA commander, during the assault, five Albanian civilians were killed.[20]
Operation MH-2
The most intensive clashes occurred during the first large-scale offensive in Kumanovo, code-named Operation MH-2, on 8 May 2001, at the entrance of the village. Macedonian Army infantry launched an onslaught, deploying one mechanized battalion and using heavy artillery and Mil Mi-24s, causing some NLA rebels to leave their positions.[21][22] The offensive started on 8 a.m but was stopped by Boris Trajkovski at 2 p.m, leaving the NLA in control of the village.[23][failed verification]
Continued fighting and Macedonian shelling
On 13 May, Macedonian forces launched an operation to dislodge rebel positions at Slupčane and Vaksince. The Macedonian Army claimed to have hit two NLA columns, killing 30 insurgents.[24]
From 14 to 16 May, Macedonian forces engaged rebel positions close to Slupčane. The Macedonian army described the action as the "worst fighting" since 3 May.[25][26]
On 17 May, the Macedonian Army pounded the village with artillery from a safe distance, but ceased shelling after firing six rounds.[27][28]
On 22 May, NLA rebels attacked Macedonian positions near Slupčane and Vaksince. Macedonian forces responded by shelling the village. The NLA claimed that six civilians were wounded and that the minaret of the mosque in Vaksince had been destroyed.[29]
Third Macedonian assault
On 24 May, the Macedonian military stormed insurgent positions to reclaim control of ten NLA-held villages in Kumanovo and Karadak region. The operation utilized tanks, artillery, and helicopter gunships to attack the NLA strongholds of Slupčane and Vaksince, as well as their mountain positions beyond, beginning at 8am. In response, the NLA unleashed a barrage of machine-gun fire.[30][31] During the assult 10 members of an Albanian family were killed by Macedonian shelling, among the dead were women and children. [32]
On 26 May, Macedonian forces managed to retake Vaksince and claimed to have recaptured Lojane, but they were unable to regain control over Slupčane.[33] Macedonian forces continued to blast Slupčane with helicopter gunships and heavy artillery, NLA rebels responded with mortars, wounding two Macedonian soldiers.[33] Although the Macedonian Army entered Vaksince, they were driven out of the village by the NLA, only three days after the initial assault.[34][35]
Fourth Macedonian assault
From 30 May to 1 June, Macedonian security forces carried out another assault to capture Slupčane, using APC's and T-55 tanks. The village was also shelled on a daily basis.[36][37] The operation was called off, after the "Tiger" Special Forces unit mutinied and had to be withdrawn from the front line, leaving the NLA in control of the village.[12]
Ambush near Slupčane
On 6 June, NLA insurgents ambushed Macedonian troops near Slupčane, killing five soldiers.[7][38]
Halting of operations by Macedonian forces
On 11 June 2001, the Macedonian Army received orders to halt all military operations in the Kumanovo-Lipkovo region. Following a Macedonian attack and ensuing clashes on 10 and 11 June, which left one Macedonian commander (Siniša Stoilov) and one civilian dead, the Macedonian army ceased all of its bombardment of positions held by the NLA.[39][10] Hostilities in the vicinity of Slupčane, Orizare, and Matejce also had diminished shortly after.[10]
Aftermath
On 5 July NLA militants from Slupčane launched attacks on Macedonian Army sites near Kumanovo.[40]
^Phillips, John (2004-01-01). Macedonia: Warlords and Rebels in the Balkans. Yale University Press. p. 113. ISBN978-0-300-10268-0. In late May, government forces registered their first success with the recapture of Vaksince, which was visited by Ljube Boskovski, the Interior Minister. Government forces were supposed to resume their attack on the villages of Slupcane, Lipkovo and Matejce, but the offensive stalled when a special forces unit mutinied and had to be withdrawn from the front line.
^ abPhillips, John (2004-01-01). Macedonia: Warlords and Rebels in the Balkans. Yale University Press. p. 113. ISBN978-0-300-10268-0. In late May, government forces registered their first success with the recapture of Vaksince, which was visited by Ljube Boskovski, the Interior Minister. Government forces were supposed to resume their attack on the villages of Slupcane, Lipkovo and Matejce, but the offensive stalled when a special forces unit mutinied and had to be withdrawn from the front line.
^Terzieff, Juliette (2001-06-13). "Rebels humiliate Macedonian army / Kosovo veterans close to capital". SFGATE. Retrieved 2023-01-26. Government forces have been able to claim few successes in the conflict. When they drove the NLA out of the village of Vaksince two weeks ago, it took less than three days for the rebels to regain a foothold.
