On March 4, 2001, Albanian rebels of the NLA, performed an ambush near the village of Tanuševci during the Insurgency in Macedonia.

Background

On February 17, 2001, fighting broke out in the village. By March 1, 100 Albanian rebels had occupied Tanuševci.

Ambush near Tanuševci

Ambush

Albanian insurgents planted landmines on a road leading to Tanuševci. At 7:30 AM, an ARM vehicle hit the landmines, killing two soldiers. At 8 AM, the rebels opened fire on military forces, killing one soldier.

Ambush near Tanuševci

Aftermath

The European Union condemned the attack. Due to the ambush, Macedonia closed its border with Kosovo. Macedonian authorities sent around 3,000 to 4,000 men to tackle the rebels, but within days the rebellion spread around nearby villages. Around 500 residents of Tanuševci, mainly women and children, fled into Kosovo.

Ambush near Tanuševci

References

History of North Macedonia

History of Kosovo

2001 insurgency in Macedonia