The
conflicts between Serbians and ethnic Albanians in Kosovo drew in the
United States and its NATO allies in 1999, resulting in the creation of
an international peacekeeping force.
During the mid-1990s, the Kosovo Liberation Army began
to attack the Serbian police in an effort to gain independence for the
region. The resulting Serbian and Yugoslav army counterattacks, which
focused on the Albanians, left hundreds killed and over 200,000 homeless.
The refusal of the Yugoslav leaders to sign the peace
agreement resulted in the commencement of Operation Allied Force on March
24, 1999. Air strikes were launched against Serbian military targets and
continued for 78 days in an effort to bring an end to the atrocities that
continued to be waged by the Serbs.
For the first time in modern history, a completely airborne
force was able to inflict massive damage while suffering no hostile fire
casualties and still achieved peace on its terms. Other notable features
of the war were the initial use of the B-2 stealth bomber in combat, cyberwarfare,
and widespread use of remotely piloted vehicles (RPVs) to identify targets.
On June 20, 1999, Operation Allied Force was officially
terminated as all Serbian and Yugoslav forces withdrew from Kosovo. The
province was subsequently divided into peacekeeping zones where NATO troops
are currently deployed enforcing law and the restoration of the area's
infrastructure. |
Kosovo
@ HistoryChannel.com
- Read about the war-torn province and find links to related biographies.
Kosovo.com - Offers
the ultimate resource for those who are seeking a better understanding
of the complex crisis in Kosovo.
ABC
News Coverage of Kosovo - Find a thorough collection of recent and
archived articles on the continuing situation.
Operation
Allied Force - DefenseLink gives an overview of NATO's objectives
along with images and video clips.
Federation
of American Scientists - Features NATO's order of battle along with
descriptions of Operation Joint Guardian, Operation Allied Force, and
Operation Allied Harbor.
NATO
and Kosovo - Access an archive of daily reports on the conflict
in Kosovo along with a collection of maps and photos.
CNN's
Focus on Kosovo - Provides a comprehensive overview of the crisis,
covering everything from the military campaigns through the peace settlement.
BBC's
Kosovo: One Year On - The British Broadcasting Company presents
an archive of weekly updates along with a collection of interactive
features.
Situation
in Kosovo - Follow the ongoing developments in Kosovo, courtesy
of the U.S. State Department.
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