Today marks 27 years since the start of the NATO air campaign against military and police targets in Serbia and Montenegro.
The attacks began on March 24, 1999, at around 7:45 p.m., when NATO aircraft first struck strategic positions of the then Yugoslav army. The decision to intervene was taken by American President Bill Clinton, who in a public speech emphasized that the intervention was necessary after the failure of diplomatic efforts to stop the conflict in Kosovo. He blamed the Serbian leadership, led by Slobodan Milošević, for escalating violence and rejecting peace.
The air campaign continued until June 9, 1999, when the Kumanovo Agreement was reached, ending military operations. Two days later, Serbian forces began their withdrawal from Kosovo.
This intervention is considered the first major military operation of NATO since its establishment. The main goal was to stop violence and ethnic cleansing in Kosovo, at a time when international efforts for a peaceful solution had failed.
During the conflict, thousands of Kosovo Albanians were forced to leave their homes, while many others lost their lives or are still missing. After the end of the war, Kosovo was placed under international administration and peacekeeping forces were deployed, marking a key moment for stability and political developments in the region.
