Kosovo War

The Kosovo War, was an armed conflict in Kosovo, in the Socialist Federal Republic of Yugoslavia, which involved Yugoslav government forces, Albanian separatist forces (KLA), and NATO, between 1998 to 1999.

The KLA, formed in 1991, began attacking police stations and Yugoslav government offices in February 1996, which resulted in an increase in the number of Yugoslav security forces in the region. This led to an escalation into a conflict, although it was initially viewed as an insurgency. The KLA was regarded by the US as a terrorist group until 1998 when it was de-listed for classified reasons. The UK and the US then lobbied France to do the same. The US and NATO then cultivated diplomatic relationships with KLA leaders.

In 1999, the KLA was officially disbanded while some members joined the UCPMB in the Preševo Valley, and the National Liberation Army (NLA) and Albanian National Army (ANA) during the armed ethnic conflict in Macedonia. UNMIK instituted NGOs within Kosovo such as the Kosovo Protection Corps (in accordance with UNSC resolution 1244 which required the establishment of a civilian emergency protection body to replace the former KLA) and the Kosovo Police (which consisted mainly of KLA veterans).

NATO countries promoted the war in Kosovo as the first humanitarian war based on short-term military reports and casualty reports. The conflict was at the center of news headlines for months, and gained a massive amount of coverage and attention from the international community and media. The NATO bombing and surrounding events have remained controversial.