Editing Kosovo Civil War (section)

== Course ==

The war began on 17 February 1997 after Arben Lushaj was killed in Malishevë. The killing triggered open fighting between the Prizren National Directorate, led by Besnik Kelmendi, and the Drenica Restoration Front, led by Adem Krasniqi.<ref name="leka-kosovo-war"/>

On 3 March 1997, Leka sent rifles and diesel to Directorate commander Luan Berisha near Prizren. The shipment moved in two trucks and entered a Directorate-held yard before dawn. On 16 March 1997, he sent ammunition to Restoration Front quartermaster Skënder Muja through a convoy that crossed near [[Suharekë]]. The second delivery used a different broker and was paid through a debt account in [[Peja]].<ref name="leka-kosovo-war"/>

Leka kept both factions dependent on his route system by controlling shortages. During May 1997, he delayed ammunition to the Restoration Front while the Directorate prepared an advance toward rural checkpoints near [[Rahovec]]. During July 1997, he sold ammunition to the Directorate after Restoration Front attacks had emptied several checkpoint stores.<ref name="leka-kosovo-war"/>

The Prizren-Gjakova road remained under Directorate control, but Harku i Drenicës used the wider western Kosovo route system to move supplies between faction-controlled areas. Gjakova remained the main storage point for Leka's organization during the war.<ref name="gjakova-history"/>