It has been 26 years since the Battle of Loxha, one of the most glorious battles of the Kosovo War.
The Battle of Loxha took place during the Kosovo War in the village of Loxhë in Peja, initially on July 6 and 12, 1998, and again later on August 10 and 17, 1998, between the Kosovo Liberation Army (KLA) and the Armed Forces of the Republic of Kosovo (FARK) against the Yugoslav Army (JNA) and the Serbian Police (MUP).
Activist from the diaspora, Fatmir Bajraj, spoke to the newspaper “Bota sot” about the historical significance of the Battle of Loxha.
He stated that this battle was one of renown, glory, and national pride.
“26 years since the Battle of Loxha, fought on July 6-7, 1998, between the enemy forces of the bloodthirsty Serbo-Slavic occupier on one side, and the regular units of the KLA, specifically the military formations of the Ministry of Defense of the Republic of Kosovo (MMRK) with Minister Colonel Ahmet Krasniqi within the Armed Forces of the Republic of Kosovo (FARK).
This brilliantly won battle was the result of the direct impact of the professional military and combat structures of the 131st Brigade, specifically the combined unit of the first Battalion of this Brigade under the leadership of distinguished officers; Major Nazif Ramabaja, Esat Ademaj, and Faruk Gjemajli, followed by the second and third Battalions with notable commanders, Bajram Stojkaj, Lumni Surdulli, and Fadil Hadergjonaj, and under the direct care and command of military operations by Colonel Tahir Zemaj, as Commander of the Operational Zone of Dukagjin.
The takeover of the village of Loxhë on July 5, 1998, by the occupying forces of the centuries-old Serbo-Slavic enemy, within the framework of a diverse operation by Serbian military, paramilitary, and militia structures, had greatly irritated the renowned Commander of the ZOD, the distinguished military officer and rare war strategist, Colonel Tahir Zemaj, who expressed his anger with a sentence:
Colonel Tahir Zemaj: ‘Loxha must be returned!’” Bajraj recalled.
And this call was fulfilled, Bajraj says, because indeed Loxha was returned, causing extraordinary damage to the bloodthirsty enemy, who, among other things, left 16 bodies on the battlefield and shamefully abandoned the battle in panic, now lost and defeated.
He recalled that the merits for this enemy defeat on the battlefield undoubtedly belong to the brave fighters of the 131st Brigade and the participating Battalions.
“The spectacular victory of the Battle of Loxha is a historic victory, not only for Loxha, the KLA, the 131st Brigade, and Battalions 1, 2, and 3 of this Brigade, MMRK, and FARK, but it is a victory for Kosovo, Albania, and all Albanians, as it is the first military and combat victory in history against the Serbs and Serbia on a front line, tooth for tooth, with a fierce and determined enemy against Kosovo and the Albanians, as Serbia was and is.
The merits for this enemy defeat on the battlefield undoubtedly
