March 24, 2025, Adrian Kuqi, Reading Time: 12 Minutes
The Kosovo War was one of the most brutal conflicts in Europe after World War II. Between 1998 and 1999, violence escalated between the predominantly Albanian population of Kosovo and the Serbian security forces under Slobodan Milošević. During the war, thousands of Albanians were displaced, tortured, and murdered.
A key factor for the intervention of the international community was the numerous war crimes committed by the Serbian forces, which were classified as ethnic cleansing. NATO intervened militarily in 1999, which ultimately led to the withdrawal of Serbia from Kosovo.
1. Historical Background of the Conflict
The roots of the Kosovo conflict are deep in the past and are closely tied to the history of the Balkans. Over centuries, Kosovo was a contested region, significant for both Albanian and Serbian identities. While Serbia views Kosovo as the “cradle of its nation,” the region has been predominantly inhabited by Albanians for centuries.
Tensions between the two ethnic groups arose from historical events, political developments, and foreign influences on the Balkans.
1.1 Kosovo in Antiquity and the Middle Ages – Illyrians, Romans, and Serbs
The present-day Kosovo was inhabited by the Illyrians in antiquity, who are considered the ancestors of today’s Albanians. In the 1st century AD, the region was conquered by the Romans, and Kosovo became part of the province of Dardania. After the fall of the Roman Empire in the 5th century, Kosovo was overrun by various peoples, including Goths, Huns, and Byzantines.
???? Key Developments:
- 5th–7th Century: Slavs settled in the Balkans, leading to the gradual Christianization and Slavicization of much of the region.
- 12th Century: The medieval Serbian Kingdom (Stefan Nemanja) conquered Kosovo and made it a cultural and religious center of Serbia.
- 1389: The famous Battle of Kosovo Polje took place between Serbian and Ottoman forces. The defeat of the Serbs led to the gradual conquest of the Balkans by the Ottoman Empire.
1.2 Kosovo under Ottoman Rule (15th–19th Century)
With the Ottoman conquest of the Balkans, Kosovo became part of the Ottoman Empire. During this time, the Albanian population of Kosovo began to identify more with Islam, while the Serbian population remained Orthodox Christian.
???? Significant Changes Under Ottoman Rule:
- Many Kosovo Albanians converted to Islam to gain better economic and social opportunities.
- The Serbian population decreased as many Serbs fled to the Habsburg Empire.
- Kosovo became an important administrative center of the Ottoman Empire.
- The Albanian national movement (Rilindja Kombëtare) began to form in the 19th century to fight against Ottoman as well as Serbian rule.
1.3 Kosovo in the 20th Century – From the Ottoman Empire to Yugoslavia
???? 1912: After the First Balkan War, Serbia conquered Kosovo from the Ottomans. The Serbian army committed numerous massacres of Albanian civilians to “Serbify” the region. ???? 1920s–1930s: The Yugoslav government carried out forced settlements of Serbs in Kosovo and suppressed the Albanian population. ???? 1941–1945: During World War II, Kosovo was briefly occupied by Italy and annexed to Greater Albania. Many Albanians saw this as an opportunity to break free from Serbian rule. ???? 1945: After the war, Yugoslavia became communist under Josip Broz Tito, and Kosovo was incorporated as an autonomous province of Serbia within the Socialist Federal Republic of Yugoslavia.
During Yugoslav rule, Albanians gained more rights in the 1970s, but tensions between Serbs and Albanians persisted.
1.4 The Revocation of Autonomy and Serbian Repression (1989–1996)
???? 1989: Slobodan Milošević revoked Kosovo’s autonomy and placed the region directly under Serbian administration. ???? 1990: The Albanian population was systematically removed from political offices. ???? 1991: While Slovenia and Croatia seceded from Yugoslavia, Kosovo Albanians also attempted to declare independence, but without international recognition. ???? 1992: Ibrahim Rugova was elected president of the unrecognized “Republic of Kosovo” and called for peaceful resistance against Serbia.
Despite the oppression, Rugova pursued a non-violent approach to achieve independence for Kosovo. However, Serbia ignored these efforts, which eventually led to the radicalization of the movement and the formation of the KLA (Kosovo Liberation Army).
1.5 Conclusion of Historical Backgrounds
The Kosovo conflict is deeply rooted in the history of the Balkans. While Serbia views Kosovo as a historical center of its national consciousness, Albanians have lived there for centuries and have demanded their right to self-determination.
Serbian repression in the 1990s, the loss of autonomy, and the violent suppression of the Albanian population ultimately led to open war.
2. The War and Serbian War Crimes (1998–1999)
2.1 The Beginnings of the War – How Escalation Happened
The Kosovo War did not break out suddenly but was the result of years of tensions, oppression, and the failure of peaceful resistance by Kosovo Albanians. While the Serbian government under Slobodan Milošević increasingly disenfranchised the Albanian population, Kosovo Albanians, under Ibrahim Rugova, tried to gain international support for their independence. However, Serbia consistently ignored these efforts while the repression against Albanians intensified.
???? The Formation of the KLA and Its First Attacks (1996–1997)
As peaceful resistance made no progress and Serbia continued to systematically oppress the Albanian population, a militant resistance movement emerged in the 1990s, known as the Kosovo Liberation Army (KLA – Ushtria Çlirimtare e Kosovës).
???? Who Was the KLA? The KLA was a paramilitary group made up of Albanian nationalists, former Yugoslav officers of Albanian descent, and volunteers from the Kosovar diaspora. Many of them had lived in Switzerland, Germany, and the USA, where they organized financial resources and military support.
???? First Attacks by the KLA Starting in 1996, the KLA began attacking Serbian police stations, military convoys, and government buildings. Their attacks initially focused on rural areas, especially in the regions of Drenica, Dukagjin, and southern Kosovo.
???? Serbia’s Response: Brutal Retaliation Against Albanian Civilians
The Serbian security forces responded with draconian reprisals. Since the KLA often operated from Albanian villages, Serbian forces began burning entire villages as retaliation and committing massacres of civilians.
???? Important Events in the First Phase of the War (1997–1998):
- February 1997: Unrest in Albania following the collapse of the pyramid schemes led to large quantities of weapons being stolen from Albanian military depots. Many of these weapons ended up with the KLA.
- Spring 1997: First heavy clashes between the KLA and Serbian police forces were reported.
- December 1997: Serbian authorities officially labeled the KLA as a “terrorist organization” and began targeting its members and supporters.
2.2 Escalation of the War (1998) – Serbian Large-Scale Offensives Against the KLA and Civilians
In 1998, the conflict quickly escalated. Serbian forces launched massive military operations, targeting not only KLA fighters but also Albanian villages.
???? The Massacre at Prekaz (March 1998) – The Turning Point of the War
One of the most brutal events that marked a new phase of the Kosovo War was the Massacre at Prekaz on March 5–7, 1998.
???? Background: Prekaz was the home of Adem Jashari, one of the leading commanders of the KLA. The Serbian government considered him one of the main opponents of Serbian control over Kosovo.
???? The Massacre:
- Serbian special forces surrounded the village and opened fire on the Jashari family’s homes.
- Serbian troops used mortars, tanks, and machine guns to destroy the village.
- 58 people were killed, including 18 women and 10 children.
- Almost the entire Jashari family was wiped out – only a 10-year-old girl survived the massacre.
???? Significance of the Massacre:
- The Massacre at Prekaz led thousands of young Albanians to join the KLA.
- It attracted international attention, and calls for intervention from the world community began.
2.3 Further Massacres and Serbian War Crimes (1998–1999)
Serbian army and paramilitary groups carried out systematic ethnic cleansing throughout Kosovo, which was part of the Serbian “Operation Horseshoe” – a plan to expel the Albanian population from Kosovo.
???? Objective of Operation Horseshoe:
- Destruction of Albanian villages and infrastructure
- Murder of KLA fighters and sympathizers
- Expulsion of hundreds of thousands of Albanians
???? Other Massacres in the Early War Phase:
- Massacre at Likoshan and Qirez (February–March 1998): Serbian security forces killed 24 civilians and burned dozens of houses.
- Massacre at Abri e Epërme (September 1998): 22 people, including 10 children, were shot.
- Massacre at Gjakova (April 1999): Serbian forces shot 150 Albanian civilians, including many women and children.
Meanwhile, the war continued to intensify, and the KLA achieved successes in several areas. However, Serbia pursued a strategy of collective punishment:
- Villages were burned down.
- Men were separated from their families and executed.
- Thousands of women were raped – a systematic war strategy.
These massacres and ethnic cleansings led to growing international pressure on Serbia and were a decisive factor in the subsequent
