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From 19 August, large armoured columns of VJ were observed by US KDOM departing their base at Kosovo Polje and moving westwards³⁴. According to EU KDOM, the main aim of the Serbian/FRY forces at this time was to keep the supply lines open, keep the UCK out of the border towns and control the surrounding areas. It appeared that further attacks by the MUP in Drenica were anticipated and offensive operations around Komorane were progressing. US KDOM observed significant activity by MUP and VJ forces on the road between Komorane and Lapusnik, as well as seeing smoke and hearing mortars and small arms fire from the area north and west of Komorane on 22 August.

On 22 August, villagers from Donja Fustica and Sedlare, in the valley south of Komorane, also claimed that the MUP forces had invited them to return to their homes by dropping leaflets, and then, after they had done so, shelled the villages during the night. Consistent with this, US KDOM found two artillery craters and one unexploded artillery round in a nearby field.

On 23 August, the anticipated Serbian offensive in the valley south of Komorane commenced. KDOM observed smoke rising from this area and heard artillery reports. It also received reports of attacks on the areas west of Stimlje and west of Suva Reka, although it was denied access to these locations by a ring of MUP forces on the main roads. Nonetheless, team members could see several artillery rounds impacting in the hills near Magura. In addition, just east of Orahovac, KDOM observed MUP forces operating in conjunction with civilians carrying side arms and assault rifles and wearing red ribbons on their right sleeves. To the north east of Malisevo, a significant increase in the MUP and VJ presence was also noted.

On 24 August, KDOM observed that many VJ armoured vehicles were lined up between Komorane and Klina, with their guns pointed towards the Malisevo area and, in the Pec to Decane area, with their guns pointed towards the vicinity of Lodja. Smoke was also seen rising from the area of Stimlje, although access here was still denied. The following day, flames and smoke were clearly visible in the valley south of Komorane. EU KDOM also reported fighting in the area between Orahovac, Suva Reka and Dulje. South of the Pristina to Pec road at Komorane and Lapusnik and north towards Klina, KDOM was prevented from patrolling by MUP forces stationed at checkpoints, who stated that ongoing "security operations" rendered the area too dangerous.

Residents of Sedlare reported that an artillery barrage on the village began on 25 August and that about five tanks or armoured vehicles appeared from the north, which entered the village and began to fire into homes. Then, a large number of ground troops arrived behind the tanks and thoroughly looted and burned the majority of houses along their path. KDOM observed mortar impacts and tailfins on the road, which appeared to confirm these

34. At the same time, EU KDOM also reported that a battalion sized mechanised battle group consisting of a tank convoy, and APC convoy, an infantry convoy (in trucks), an artillery battery (tracked), six AAA vehicles (20/30 mm cannon), Engineers (including an Armoured Brigade layer), Communications & Maintenance trucks and Tankers was moving west on the road from Pristina to Pec and noted that this configuration of military equipment was that commonly used by the Serbian security forces for route clearance.