Ismet Jashari joined the
KLA after the
Prekaz massacre on 7 March 1998. On March 11, he, together with other
KLA leaders such as Fehmi Lladrovci,
Bekim Berisha and
Fatmir Limaj entered the
Drenica valley, where the
KLA was operating against the
VJ. Later that month, the General Staff of the
KLA, assigned Ismet Jashari as commander in the
Llapusha region, beginning the Llapusha Front. In Late March 1998, Ismet Jashari, together with
Fatmir Limaj, formed the "Çeliku" unit, which was based in Kleçka. In April 1998, Ismet Jashari was ambushed by Yugoslav forces between the villages of Volljakë and Çupevë, while he was returning to Kleçka from leading military operations in
Klina and
Dukagjin. Ismet Jashari survived the ambush, but was wounded in both legs. On May 9, 1998, Ismet Jashari, who still had not fully recovered from the injuries he suffered during the ambush, led his forces into
Llapushnik, where he defeated the Yugoslav Army and police and captured the town. After occupying
Llapushnik, Ismet Jashari led further operations against Yugoslav forces, defeating them in multible battles and capturing the strategically important sites of Duhla Pass and
Carraleva Gorge. From beginning of May to August 1998, Ismet Jashari reinforced strategic sites in southern
Drenica,
Llapushnik and the Duhla Pass for an upcoming Yugoslav Offensive. On 14 June 1998, Yugoslav forces attacked and captured the
Carraleva Gorge and the Duhla Pass, held by Ismet Jashari's forces, three days later Ismet Jashari counterattacked the VJ, who were preparing to penetrate towards Luzhnica. Ismet Jashari managed to recapture the Carraleva Gorge, forcing the VJ to withdraw back to their positions in the Duhla Pass. At the end of June 1998, Ismet Jashari fortied his positions in Carraleva, Zborca, Blinaja, Fushtica, Terpeza, Bllaca and everywhere in the territories, that were under the control of the KLA in south Drenica and Llapusha. In August 1998, Ismet Jashari attacked and defeated VJ units at several occasions, such as in Shtëpia e Pylltarit, Ura e Sahitit and in the village of Belinc. During a major Yugoslav offensive on 25 and 26 July 1998, Ismet Jashari's forces fought battles with the VJ in
Llapushnik, Zborc and the Carraleva Gorge, but were not able to hold these strategic sites. On 23 August 1998, Yugoslav forces marched towards Kleçka, where the General Staff of the
KLA was also located, but were met by Ismet Jashari's forces in Luzhnica, who held off the VJ from penetrating towards Kleçka for an entire day, while being heavily outnumbered. On 24 August 1998, the VJ had increased their offensive by attacking Ismet Jashari's forces with large-caliber cannons and surface-to-surface missiles, ultimately succeeding in driving the KLA out of Luzhnica and capturing Kleçka. One day later on 25 August, Ismet Jashari had launched a surprise counterattack in an attempt to retrieve the bodies of the fallen soldiers. After several hours of close combat in Luzhnica, Ismet Jashari fell in Battle. == Death ==