15yo NATO bombings of Yugoslavia in 15 dramatic photos
24 Mar, 2014 10:25 / Updated 10 years ago
A Yugoslav Army barracks in the Kosovan town of Pec, destroyed during NATO's air strikes (Reuters)
Reuters
2,000 civilians died during 78 days of devastating NATO airstrikes on Yugoslavia in 1999, when citizens of a European country became accustomed to war-heads flying over their heads, hiding in bomb shelters and praying for their loved ones to stay alive.
US President Bill Clinton calls the bombing “humanitarian
intervention” adding “It is also important to America's national
interest”.
NATO aircraft take off from bases in Italy and Germany, the first
of 1,000 sorties under operation ‘Noble Anvil’ (seriously).
NATO launch Tomahawk missiles with 1,000-pound warheads from
ships in the Mediterranean and Adriatic at military facilities in
Pristina, Podgorica, Batajnica and an air base near Belgrade.
For the first time Serbian night skies are lit by fire from a
NATO explosion.
At an emergency UNSC meeting only Russia, China and Namibia
support a resolution condemning NATO’s aggression.
NATO insists it will only bomb military targets in Yugoslavia,
regularly issuing photos to support the claim.
However, the so-called “humanitarian intervention” killed 2,000
civilians.
NATO destroyed homes and schools, libraries and hospitals,
dismissing it as ‘collateral damage’.
A target became protest symbol. Anti-NATO demonstrators would use
them in Belgrade and around the world.
In April, Belgrade announced a unilateral ceasefire to mark the
Orthodox Easter and made an offer to allow refugees to return to
Kosovo. The West replied with another night of bombing.
Thousands of people spent nights in bomb shelters.
In late May NATO plunged Belgrade into darkness, destroying a
power plant that supplied much of Serbia.
NATO either completely destroyed or damaged 40,000 homes.
Refineries and chemical plants all over Serbia were destroyed,
polluting the region’s ecology and damaging public health.
15 years after the NATO bombings, Serbia is still haunted by the
memories of the aggression which cost it hundreds of lives.