Agim Ramadani (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.

Biography

Agim Ramadani was born on 3 May 1963 in the village of Zhegër located in the Karadak Highlands in the municipality of Gjilan in AP Kosovo. His family originally hails from Depce near Preševo and belongs to the Berisha tribe. He studied at the higher technical school in Gnjilane in 1980, and the Military Academy for communications in Zagreb, SR Croatia. In 1998 Ramadani left Switzerland, where his wife and three children lived, and joined the Kosovo Liberation Army (KLA). 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.

Battle of Gjocaj and Jasiq

On 28 July 1998 Ramadani came to reinforce the defense of the villages Gjocaj and Jasiq. Yugoslav troops attacked the villages from the military outpost of Kosharë to take the two strategic points. The attack failed, resulting in three VJ soldiers as well as a VJ Major killed, while the KLA under Ramadani's command suffered three casualties.

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.

Operation Eagle

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

Gjeravica Raid

Agim Ramadani’s next operation against Yugoslav forces happened on a Yugoslav Military Outpost and Watchtower near the Gjeravica Mountain on 15 September 1998. 40 Serbian soldiers were killed and 20 wounded

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.

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. 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.

Death

The death of Agim Ramadani has been a source of speculation. 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. Isni Berisha, a former KLA soldier who witnessed Ramadani's death said he was killed in a surprise attack by Serbs.

Legacy

Agim is regarded an Albanian hero. A main street in Pristina is named after him.

Sources