Operation MH explained

Operation MH (mk|Операција МХ) was the first major offensive by the combined forces of the Macedonian Army and police forces in the 2001 insurgency in Macedonia. The goal of the operation was to dislodge the NLA forces which were entrenched in Tetovo and the hills and villages in its vicinity.^[5]

Prelude

Weeks prior Albanian rebels had taken control of the Tetovo fortress and several villages in the Tetovo municipality where sporadic fighting occurred between Macedonian security forces and Albanian rebels. The government conducted so called "search and sweep operations" that lead to several arrests.^[6]

Execution of the Operation MH

The operation started at 7am on 25 March with an hour long artillery barrage followed by Macedonian Army units moving in to encircle the villages held by the rebels. Helicopters covered the retreat and reinforcement routes that lead to Kosovo, during the first phase of the battle stiff resistance was encountered in the village of Gajre and Šipkovica which was overcome with the assistance of police special forces and fresh reserves. The fall of Šipkovica and Gajre opened the path for the capture of the Tetovo fortress which was accomplished by the Macedonian Special Forces.^{[7] [8]} According to Macedonian sources the rebels were fleeing in panic across the mountains leaving weapons and uniforms behind while Albanian sources called it a tactical retreat.^[9]

See also

• Operation MH-1
• Operation Vaksince
• Operation MH-2

Notes and References

1. Web site: Boudreaux . Richard . Rebels Lose Strongholds in Army Assault . Los Angeles Times.
2. Web site: Gall . Carlotta . Village That Rebels Held Is Suddenly Almost Empty . The New York Times . 30 April 2022.
3. Web site: De Breadun . Deaglan . Skopje assault results in fiercest fighting to date . The Irish Times . 30 April 2022.
4. Web site: Boudreaux . Richard . Both Sides in Macedonia Hold Out Hope for Peaceful End . Los Angeles Times . 30 April 2022.
5. Web site: Kirka . Danica . 2001-03-26 . Macedonia troops launch offensive against ethnic Albanian rebels . 22 May 2022 . Seacoastonline.
6. Web site: 2001-03-22 . Macedonia police move into hills to fight rebels . 30 April 2022 . Associated Press.
7. Web site: Hundley . Tom . MACEDONIA ARMY TAKES REBEL ZONE . 30 April 2022.
8. Web site: Kirka . Danica . 2001-03-26 . Macedonia troops launch offensive against ethnic Albanian rebels . 30 April 2022.
9. Web site: Finn . Peter . 2001-03-27 . Albanian Guerrillas Retreat After Macedonian Offensive . 30 April 2022 . The Washington Post . The Washington Post.