Attack on Prekaz

The Attack on Prekaz, also known as the Prekaz massacre, was an operation led by the Special Anti-Terrorism Unit of Serbia which lasted from 5 to 7 March 1998, whose goal was to eliminate Kosovo Liberation Army (KLA) suspects and their families. During the operation, KLA leader Adem Jashari and his brother Hamëz were killed, along with nearly 60 other family members. The assault came two months after a smaller unsuccessful attack in January that year with the same objectives. The attack was criticized by Amnesty International, which wrote in its report that: "all evidence suggests that the attack was not intended to apprehend armed Albanians, but to eliminate the suspects and their families." Serbia, on the other hand, claimed the raid was due to KLA attacks on police outposts. The attack and subsequent death of Jashari became an integral part of the local Albanian national narrative. FR Yugoslav authorities considered this location to be a part of the hotbed of “Albanian terrorism". The operation was accompanied by use of at least three summary executions, and excessive and indiscriminate force by Serbian forces leading to excess (and intentional) non-combatant casualties.