Leposavić ambush
Leposavić ambush | |||||||
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Part of the aftermath of the Kosovo War | |||||||
![]() Indian troops standing by Commander Satish Menon's grave. | |||||||
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Belligerents | |||||||
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Commanders and leaders | |||||||
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Strength | |||||||
Multiple gunmen | 2 Police officers | ||||||
Casualties and losses | |||||||
None | 1 killed |
The Leposavić ambush was an ambush in North Kosovo resulting in the killing of an Indian officer. The ambush was allegedly carried out by the Albanian National Army (ANA) and the Kosovo Protection Corps (TMK). This marked the first deadly assault on Kosovo's UN police force since the Kosovo War, as stated by UN officials.[2][3] While the perpetrators have not been officially confirmed by the UN, Serbian Deputy Prime Minister Nebojša Čović claimed that it was the ANA and the TMK behind these attacks.[4][5]
Background
[edit]The United Nations Interim Administration Mission in Kosovo (UNMIK) was established in 1999 following the Kosovo War, which saw NATO intervention to halt Serbian repression of Kosovo Albanians. UNMIK was mandated to administer and govern Kosovo, which was placed under interim UN administration. Its mission included maintaining law and order, facilitating the return of refugees, and promoting democratic governance. UNMIK's presence in Kosovo involved various components, including civil administration, police, judiciary, and civil society.
The mission aimed to build institutions and promote stability while fostering dialogue between different ethnic communities, particularly Albanians and Serbs. However, Kosovo's status remained unresolved, with Albanians advocating for independence while Serbia insisted on maintaining sovereignty over the territory. Efforts to reach a negotiated settlement, including talks between Belgrade and Pristina, faced numerous challenges and setbacks.
Ambush
[edit]On 3 August 2003, while Major Satish Menon and another officer were driving their patrol car, they stopped and slowed due to rocks on the road between Leposavić and Mitrovica. During their stop, their car came under heavy gunfire from concealed gunmen. Multiple shots were fired where Menon was sitting and was soon struck, killing him instantly.[6]
Perpetrators
[edit]The perpetrators are contentious, however, the UN asserts that the ANA is responsible for the attack, based on the available information and intelligence.[7] The Serbian Government also attributes the TMK as a suspected perpetrator. The UN offered US$56,000 to anyone who could arrest the perpetrator.[3]
Reactions
[edit]United Nations
[edit]UNMIK administraitor and American diplomat Charles Brayshaw strongly denounced the ambush, labeling it as "despicable" and "repugnant" act of murder while also condemning it as "a direct attack on international forces of law and order."[2][7][8]
Serbia
[edit]The Deputy Prime Minister of Serbia, Nebojša Čović, blamed the outlawed ANA for the ambush, suggesting possible involvement of the TMK as well.
Kosovo Albanians
[edit]On the Albanian side, local politicians attributed the shooting to "Serb extremist elements." However, despite the attack occurring in the Serb-dominated north of the province, the UN was investigating the possibility that it might have been carried out by a hardline ethnic Albanian group.[7]
References
[edit]- ^ "Undermining Kosovo's future - Serbia | ReliefWeb". reliefweb.int. 2003-08-25. Retrieved 2024-04-12.
- ^ a b "Kosovo: officer killed in first fatal attack on UN police force | UN News". news.un.org. 2003-08-04. Retrieved 2024-04-12.
- ^ a b "Serbia and Montenegro | Wilson Center". www.wilsoncenter.org. Retrieved 2024-04-12.
- ^ "Undermining Kosovo's future - Serbia | ReliefWeb". reliefweb.int. 2003-08-25. Retrieved 2024-03-31.
- ^ "UN policeman shot in Kosovo 'ambush'". 2003-08-04. Retrieved 2024-03-31.
- ^ "Kosovo: UN mission offers reward for information on murdered police officer | UN News". news.un.org. 2003-08-05. Retrieved 2024-04-12.
- ^ a b c "UN police officer killed in Kosovo | World news | The Guardian". The Guardian. Retrieved 2024-03-31.
A UN police source said intelligence gathered just over a week ago indicated that the Albanian National Army (ANA) would launch an attack
- ^ "Gunmen Shoot Dead UN Policeman in Kosovo". OODA Loop. 2003-08-04. Retrieved 2024-04-12.