Agim Ramadani

Agim Ramadani[lower-alpha 1] (3 May 1963 – 11 April 1999) also known with nickname "KATANA", was an Albanian commander of the Kosovo Liberation Army (KLA), an ethnic Albanian paramilitary organization that sought the independence of Kosovo from Serbia. He was killed in action during the Battle of Košare. After the war, he was declared Hero of Kosovo.

Agim Ramadani
Statue of Agim Ramadani in Žegra, Kosovo
Nickname(s)"KATANA"
Born3 May 1963
Žegra, Gnjilane, AP Kosovo, SFR Yugoslavia
(now Kosovo)
Died11 April 1999
Koshare, Gjakova, Kosovo, FR Yugoslavia
(now Kosovo)
RankMilitary Commander
Unit138th Brigade
Commands held Kosovo Liberation Army (KLA)
Battles/warsKosovo War
AwardsHero of Kosovo (posthumously)[1]

Biography

Agim Ramadani was born on 3 May 1963 in the village of Žegra located in the Karadak Highlands in the municipality of Gnjilane in AP Kosovo.[2] His family originally hails from Depce near Preševo and belongs to the Berisha tribe.[3] He studied at the higher technical school in Gnjilane in 1980, and the Military Academy for communications in Zagreb, SR Croatia.[2]

In 1998, Ramadani left Switzerland, where his wife and three children lived,[4] and joined the Kosovo Liberation Army (KLA).[5] He died at the Battle of Košare.

Kosovo War

Early stage

On the outbreak of the Kosovo War, Ramadani joined the Kosovo Liberation Army, where he immediately became a commander in the Operational Zone of Dukagjin.[2]

Battle of Gunovc and Komorec

On 26 July 1998, Ramadani came to reinforce the defense of the villages Gunovc and Komorec. Yugoslav troops attacked the villages from the military outpost of Košare to take the two strategic points. The attack failed, resulting in eight VJ soldiers as well as a VJ Major killed, while the KLA under Ramadani's command suffered three casualties.[6]

Battle of Opljaz

On 9 August 1998 in the village of Oplazë (Serbian: Опљаз, romanized: Opljaz), forces under Ramadani's command successfully defeated Yugoslav forces killing 17-20 Soldiers as well as two Army officers.[2][7]

Operation Eagle

On August 15, 1998, Ramadani initiated "Operation Eagle," which involved attacking the Zhillovic police station.[6]

Ðeravica Raid

His next operation against Yugoslav forces happened on a Yugoslav Military Outpost and Watchtower near the Đeravica Mountain on 15 September 1998.[2][7]

Operation Fenix

In his next Operation codenamed "Operation Fenix" on 30 September 1998 he attacked Yugoslav Army positions near the Košare Military Base. Again the Operation ended with an victory for Ramadani's brigade, killing 6 Yugoslav soldiers, wounding another 6, destroying 1 Tank and 1 APC.[8]

Battle of Košare

On 9 April 1999 Ramadani, together with 136 Soldiers under his command crossed the Albanian-Yugoslav border near Košare and attacked Yugoslav Forces numbering 300 Soldiers, starting the bloodiest Battle in the entire Kosovo War.[9] The fighting on the first day lasted 24 hours and ended with a victory for Ramadani's forces, forcing the Yugoslav soldiers to retreat to the Košare base, the heavy fighting left 4 KLA soldiers and 23 Yugoslav soldiers dead.[10]

Death

The death of Agim Ramadani has been a source of speculation.[11] The account of his death reported by the KLA was that he had been killed in surprise attack by Serbian forces during the battle of Košare. American journalist James Ridgeway speculates that his death was connected to a string of assassinations of prominent KLA and FARK leaders that link to Hashim Thaçi.[12] Isni Berisha, a former KLA soldier who witnessed Ramadani's death said he was killed in a surprise attack by Serbs.[13]

Legacy

Agim is regarded an Albanian hero.[14] A main street in Pristina is named after him.[15]

Notes
  1. Serbian Cyrillic: Агим Рамадани

References
  1. "Zyra e Kryeministrit të Kosovës".
  2. Qeriqi, Zamir (2022-04-11). "Agim Hysni Ramadani (3.5.1963 – 11.4.1999)". Radio Kosova e Lirë. Retrieved 2022-12-27.
  3. "Порекло презимена, село Депце (Прешево) - Порекло". www.poreklo.rs (in Serbian). 2020-09-17. Retrieved 2023-03-25.
  4. albanian history Archived 2015-04-02 at the Wayback Machine
  5. Agim Ramadani Archived 2015-04-02 at the Wayback Machine
  6. "Veprimtaria Kombëtare e Heroit të Kosovës Agim Ramadanit- Katana". Bota Sot. Retrieved 2023-04-17.
  7. "The Albanian criminal Agim Ramadani (1963-1999) - www.zlocininadsrbima.com". www.zlocininadsrbima.com. Retrieved 2022-12-27.
  8. Nikolic, Petrit Çollaku, Ivana (2016-02-16). "Kosovo Ex-Guerrillas Await Yugoslav Army Ambush Verdict". Balkan Insight. Retrieved 2022-12-27.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: multiple names: authors list (link)
  9. "Rrëfimi për Kosharen". Telegrafi (in Albanian). 2017-04-09. Retrieved 2022-12-27.
  10. Demaj, Florim. Me UÇK-në në Koshare : nga vija e parë të frontit dhe nëpër Kosovën e pasluftës (in Albanian). pp. 79–80. Rezultati i gjashtë orë luftimeve ishte nga ana jonë katër të vrarë e një të plagosur, kurse nga radhët e armikut kishte 23 të vrarë
  11. "Misteri i vrasjes së Agim Ramadanit!". Bota Sot (in Albanian). Retrieved 2023-07-16.
  12. Udovicki, Jasminka; Ridgeway, James (2000-10-31). Burn This House: The Making and Unmaking of Yugoslavia. Duke University Press. p. 329. ISBN 978-0-8223-8091-7.
  13. "Si u vra Agim Ramadani? Rrëfen për herë të parë ish-ushtari që e pa komandantin kur ra në tokë".
  14. The exhibit of a hero, Berisha: Agim Ramadani, an eminent patriot, AS TV, November 14, 2012, archived from the original on November 10, 2013, retrieved 2013-11-09
  15. Të premten mbyllet pjesërisht për qarkullim rruga "Agim Ramadani" ["Agim Ramadani" street will be partly closed for circulation on Friday] (in Albanian), Municipality of Prishtina, 2013-09-25, archived from the original on 2016-02-22, retrieved 2013-10-07

Sources
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