Macedonian special police units continued to fight NLA rebels in the hills and forests around Tetovo. The Macedonian government described the operation as a counter-offensive. On March 14, both the Macedonian government and western journalists reported NLA attacks around Tetovo. Macedonia reinforced the area with special police security units. On March 16, the Macedonian special police reported they fought NLA rebels holed up in hills overlooking Tetovo. The Macedonian police used mortars to attack NLA positions. On March 17 the Macedonians again used mortar to push approximately 200 NLA guerrillas out of the hills. A Macedonian source said that 25 civilians had been injured in the fighting, and one civilian had been killed. Another government report said the police had captured a NLA weapons dump and had taken several prisoners.