Today Serbia marks the 17th anniversary since the start of the NATO bombing campaign against Serbia, i.e. the former Federal Republic of Yugoslavia (SRJ). The decision to attack Yugoslavia was the first in history to be made without the approval of the UN Security Council.

The bombing lasted 79 days and resulted in at least 2,500 deaths and more than 12,500 injuries.

The attacks on Serbia started on March 24, 1999, and the last one took place near Kosovska Kamenica on June 10 at 13:15 CET.

17th anniversary of NATO bombing
Photo: www.oslobodjenje.ba

The death toll among the military and police forces reached 1,008, including 659 soldiers and 349 policemen. Around 6,000 civilians were injured, including 2,700 children.

The total damage was estimated at dozens of billions of dollars. NATO has never disclosed its losses.

The decision to attack Yugoslavia was the first in history to be made without the approval of the UN Security Council, and the order was given to U.S. General Wesley Clark, the allied commander at the time, by NATO Secretary General Javier Solana.

Yugoslavia was attacked under the pretext of failure of the talks on the future status of the southern Serbian province of Kosovo, held in Rambouillet and Paris.

After the decision on non-acceptance of foreign troops was ratified by the Serbian parliament, which proposed the UN forces to monitor a peaceful resolution of conflicts in Kosovo, NATO launched air raids on March 24, 1999 at 19:45 CET.

SRUŠENI MOST U NOVOM SADU
Novi Sad, PHOTO TANJUG / DRAGAN ANTONIC

Facing mounting diplomatic pressure, NATO ended the bombing with the signing of the Military Technical Agreement in Kumanovo on June 9, 1999, and the latest missiles fell near Kosovska Kamenica on June 10 at 13:30 CET.

 

Source: B92

Tags

17th anniversary of NATO bombingNATONATO bombingNATO bombing of the federal Republic of Yugoslavia

Comments are closed.

Related Articles