The Kosovo Liberation Army was an ethnic Albanian separatist militia that sought the separation of Kosovo, the vast majority of which is inhabited by Albanians, from the Federal Republic of Yugoslavia (FRY) and Serbia during the 1990s. Albanian nationalism was a central tenet of the KLA and many in its ranks supported the creation of a Greater Albania, which would encompass all Albanians in the Balkans, stressing Albanian culture, ethnicity and nation.
The District of Gjakova is one of the seven districts of Kosovo, with seat in the city of Gjakova.
The Armed Forces of the Republic of Kosova was a military of Republic of Kosova, paramilitary organization and military wing of the Democratic League of Kosovo (LDK), the main right-wing party in Kosovo established by Ibrahim Rugova and Bujar Bukoshi. It was active during the Kosovo War from August 1998 until the war's end in June 1999.
Azem Bejta, commonly known as Azem Galica, was an Albanian nationalist, resistance fighter and rebel who fought for the unification of Kosovo with Albania. He is known for leading the Kachak Movement against the Kingdom of Yugoslavia.
The Battle of Košare was fought during the Kosovo War between the FR Yugoslav Forces and the Kosovo Liberation Army (KLA), the latter supported by the NATO air forces and Albanian Army. The battle was fought around Košare on the border between FR Yugoslavia and Albania from 9 April 1999 until 10 June 1999 during the NATO bombing of FR Yugoslavia.
Ismet Jashari also known as Commander Kumanova, was an Albanian commander of the Kosovo Liberation Army (KLA) who was killed on 25 August 1998 during the fighting with Serbian forces in Klečke, Kosovo. The Ismet Jashari-Kumanova Brigade of the KLA was named in his memory. After the Kosovo War, he was declared Hero of Kosovo.
Bekim Berisha was a Kosovo Albanian soldier who gained prominence in the Yugoslav Wars. He served in the Croatian Army during the Croatian War of Independence. He subsequently fought in the Army of the Republic of Bosnia and Herzegovina, and later also in the Kosovo Liberation Army (KLA), where he was named a general. He was killed in 1998, during the Battle of Junik, and was posthumously promoted to Brigadier General.
Agim Ramadani 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.
The Battle of Junik was fought during the Kosovo War between the ethnic Albanian paramilitary organization known as the Kosovo Liberation Army (KLA) and the security forces of the Federal Republic of Yugoslavia over the town of Junik in western Kosovo.
Tahir Zemaj, was a reowned Major in the Yugoslav People's Army, Commander-in-chief of the Armed Forces of the Republic of Kosova (FARK) and General of the Kosovo Liberation Army (KLA) during the Kosovo War (1998–1999), who was killed under suspicious circumstances as part of a killing series in the early 2000s.
Fadil Nimani was a Kosovar Albanian insurgent commander of the Kosovo Liberation Army (KLA) during the Kosovo War and the National Liberation Army (NLA) during the 2001 insurgency in Macedonia, in which the Albanian population sought independence of Albanian-inhabited areas in FR Yugoslavia and Macedonia, respectively.
Lahi Brahimaj, known by the nickname Magjupi, was a Kosovo Liberation Army (KLA) commander during the Kosovo War (1998–99). A Kosovo Albanian, Brahimaj was born in Jablanica, a village in Gjakova, SFR Yugoslavia. He is a close relative of Ramush Haradinaj, the KLA commander of the Dukagjin Zone. During the Kosovo War he was the deputy commander of the Operational Staff of the Dukagjin Zone, as well as the intermediary between the Dukagjin Zone Staff and the KLA Main Staff, and the manager of a prison in Jablanica. After the war he became an officer in the Kosovo Protection Corps. On 4 March 2005, the ICTY raised indictments against Ramush Haradinaj, Idriz Balaj and Lahi Brahimaj on 37 counts, including crimes against humanity, violation of the law and custom of war. They were accused of crimes committed between 1 March and 30 September 1998. The three surrendered on 9 March 2005. After four years of trial, in 2008, Haradinaj and Balaj were deemed innocent and freed. Meanwhile, Brahimaj was sentenced to six years for cruel treatment and torture as violations of the laws or customs of war in two counts.
Nijazi Azemi was one of the early and high-ranking commanders of the Liberation Army of Preševo, Medveđa and Bujanovac (UÇPMB). During the war, he had the nickname "Komandant Mjekrra". He was known for his Guerilla-style attacks on Yugoslav Army (VJ) and police. He was the main commander of the 115th "Karadaku" Brigade, which was later renamed to 115th "Njazi Azemi" Brigade following his death.
Luan Haradinaj was a Kosovo Liberation Army soldier who died during the fight with Serbian/Yugoslav forces in Qafë Prush, at the border of that time of Yugoslavia and Albania.
Shkëlzen Haradinaj was a Kosovo Liberation Army soldier and commander who died during the fight with Serbian/Yugoslav forces in Maznik, while trying to protect the civilian population hiding in the Mountains near Deçan.
Rashit Mustafa was an Albanian commander of the Kosovo Liberation Army (KLA), he is best known for leading the Special Unit "Skanderbeg'' of the 138th Brigade of the KLA. During the war, he had the nickname "Komandant Karadaku".
Agim Avdi Shala was a Kosovo Albanian commander that fought in the Kosovo Liberation Army (KLA). The goal of the KLA was the independence of Kosovo from FR Yugoslavia. Agim Shala was killed in action during the second Battle of Vërrin.
Besim Mala was one of the most well known commandants of Kosovo Liberation Army and the first Commander of the Special Force in the Kosovo Protection Corps, who was killed under suspicious circumstances as part of a killing series in the early 2000s.
Ilaz Kodra was one of the founders and early commanders of Kosovo Liberation Army, who died during the Battle of Shtuticë, he is regarded as one of the most prominent leaders of the KLA and the "right hand of Adem Jashari".
Kosovo Liberation Army