Harun Aliu

Harun Aliu (; 20 May 1971 – 12 May 2010), known as Commander Kushtrimi, was an Albanian commander and co-founder of the Kosovo Liberation Army (KLA) during the Kosovo War and the National Liberation Army (NLA) during the 2001 insurgency in Macedonia, who later became a politician in Macedonia (now North Macedonia). He was killed in a shootout near Raduša with the Macedonian police on 12 May 2010.

Early life Harun Aliu was born on 20 May 1971, in the Čento neighborhood of Skopje, and originated from the village of Nikuštak in the Skopska Crna Gora (Karadak) region near Kumanovo. Aliu completed his elementary education in his hometown. From 1995 to 1998, Aliu supplied weapons to members of the KLA. The operation was led by him, alongside several of his comrades. However, following Operation MH, most NLA fighters, including Aliu, were forced out of Tetovo. After that, Aliu moved on to fight at Karadak.

Aftermath of Operation Mountain Storm After Operation Mountain Storm in November 2007, where six Albanian militants were killed, months later a drive-by ambush occurred on 3 January 2008 targeting the Macedonian "Tigers" special forces. The ambush took place in Skopje's Avtokomanda district, US Ambassador to Macedonia Philip Reeker expressed his support for the police action.

Legacy Aliu's funeral took place in the Čento (Hasenbeg) neighborhood of Skopje, featuring both religious and national ceremonies. The event was attended by thousands of Albanians, including family members, friends, comrades-in-arms, and patriots from Macedonia, Albania, Kosovo, and the Albanian diaspora.

In 2022, a monument honoring him was erected in his place of origin, the village of Nikuštak, located in the municipality of Lipkovo.