[23][2] On the same day, Macedonian forces decided to launch a counter-offensive to reclaim the village seized by the NLA.

[14] Army spokesman Gjorgji Trendafilov told the Associated Press that the NLA was holding thousands of villagers as human shields.

[33] During the clashes, Fadil Nimani, main commander of the NLA in Vaksince, fell in battle, while one Macedonian police officer was wounded.

[34] Nevertheless, the Macedonian army shelled Vaksince on 6 June, setting a house on fire, which according to CNN would have been unlikely if they still had occupied the area.

[39] Human Rights Watch concluded that Macedonian forces were arresting and beating Albanian civilians during and after their offensive from 24 to 26 May 2001.