The Kosovo War

Kosovo (a Serbian province in southern Serbia and Montenegro populated predominantly by Albanians) was in a state of oppression during the 1990s, as Albanian radio and television were restricted and Kosovar Albanians were dismissed from their jobs by the masses. Sick and tired with their treatment, the Kosovo Liberation Army was formed in 1996 and the Kosovar Albanians started an insurgency (an organized rebellion aimed at overthrowing a constituted government) against the Serbian government.

Armed fighting broke out at the beginning of 1998. In March 1999, after a failed NATO organized ceasefire in January 1999, NATO decided the conflict would only end with the introduction of military peacekeeping forces, who would forcibly restrain the two side. 

However, Yugoslavia rejected the external peacekeeping forces and so NATO followed this with the bombing of Yugoslavia, which was an intervention against Serbian forces. This caused a great loss of life and many people were displaced. Nonetheless, Serbian police and paramilitaries continued to displace the Kosovar Albanians.

Usce Tower on fire because of NATO bombing, Yugoslavia, 1999.

In June 1999, hostilities ended with the Kumanovo agreement. Kosovo was placed under control of the United Nations interim administration mission.