Ljuboten incident

The Ljuboten incident, also referred to as the Ljubotenski Bacila massacre,[4] happened on 10 August, 2001, when an Macedonian Army truck convoy composed of reservists ran over a landmine near the village of Ljuboten killing eight men.[5] Immediately after the attack fighting between Albanian rebels and Macedonian forces erupted.[6][7] The Macedonian government officially blamed the NLA for the attack.[8] The leader of the NLA, Ali Ahmeti, did not confirm NLA involvement in planting the mines, suggested the devices might have been placed by government forces to prevent rebel crossings, and expressed regret at the incident.[9]

Ljuboten Incident
Part of 2001 insurgency in Macedonia
Date10 August 2001
Location
Ljuboten, Republic of Macedonia
Belligerents
National Liberation Army (initial attack denied by Ali Ahmeti)  Republic of Macedonia
Commanders and leaders
Xhavit Asani Boris Trajkovski
Units involved
113th Brigade "Ismet Jashari" Army of the Republic of Macedonia Army Reservists
Strength
Unknown Army of the Republic of Macedonia Unknown
Casualties and losses
none[1][2]

Army of the Republic of Macedonia 8 killed

Army of the Republic of Macedonia 8 wounded

10 ethnic Albanian civilians killed in later police action

150 ethnic Albanians injured[3]

Aftermath

Two days after the attack, Macedonian forces surrounded Ljuboten and killed ten Albanian civilians.[8]

References
  1. "Luboteni 2001 - Asani, Skender (Skender Asani)". www.botimpex.com. Retrieved 2023-04-29.
  2. "Dëshmorët" (PDF).
  3. https://reliefweb.int/report/former-yugoslav-republic-macedonia/fyr-macedonia-crimes-ljuboten
  4. "Macedonia marks 21 years since the Ljubotenski Bacila ambush". Republika. 10 August 2022. Retrieved 18 December 2022.
  5. "Soldiers killed in Macedonia blast". CNN world. Archived from the original on 2013-01-20. Retrieved 2022-03-08.
  6. "CNN.com - Soldiers killed in Macedonia blast - August 10, 2001". edition.cnn.com. Retrieved 2022-10-17.
  7. KRZAK, Andrzej (2014). "ASYMMETRY OF THE ALBANIAN-MACEDONIAN MILITARY CONFLICT IN 2001: MILITARY CHARACTERISTICS OF THE FIGHT IN THE REGIONS OF TETOVO, KUMANOVO, ARAČINOVO AND VAKSINCE". Politeja (30): 295–316. doi:10.12797/Politeja.11.2014.30.23. ISSN 1733-6716. JSTOR 24919730. the area of Luboten (Ljuboten) village on the way to Lubca (Ljubca) there was a terrorist attack on a military convoy, when eight Macedonian soldiers were killed
  8. Fisher, Ian (2001-09-05). "Report Says Macedonians Killed Civilians in Revenge". The New York Times. ISSN 0362-4331. Retrieved 2022-10-17.
  9. "Ali Ahmeti: "NLA Supports the Peace Agreement" Posted August 11, 2001". Alb net. National Albanian American Council. Archived from the original on 2016-10-17. Retrieved 3 July 2022. The NLA has signed an agreement with NATO, where both parties have no right of movement, that is why today I am expressing my regret that the Government troops have entered the mountain road and have stepped on mines which we have not confirmed whether they have been planted by our soldiers or by government forces themselves, so that they could prevent the movement of the NLA in those areas. So again, I express regret for this accident.


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