Military large-scale operation of the NATO bloc against Yugoslavia — operation « Union force » ( English. Operation Allied Force ) — bombing of the Federal Republic of Yugoslavia by NATO forces from March 24 to June 10, 1999, during the war in Kosovo.
After the Yugoslav authorities, led by President Slobodan Milosevic, were accused of ethnic cleansing in the Serbian autonomous region of Kosovo, mainly inhabited by Albanians, the NATO bloc demanded the withdrawal of Yugoslav troops and police from Kosovo and the deployment of their troops in Kosovo with the right to unhindered movement throughout Yugoslavia.
After Yugoslavia refused to fulfill the ultimatum, on March 24, 1999, NATO, without the approval of the Security Council, launched bombing of military facilities in Yugoslavia, later expanded to industrial and civilian facilities. In 78 days of unceasing bombing, according to various estimates, from 1,200 to 2,500 Yugoslavs were killed, about 5,000 people were injured.
Yugoslavia suffered damage worth about $ 30 billion. After Yugoslavia agreed to withdraw troops and police from its autonomous region of Kosovo, the bombing was stopped on June 10. On June 12, NATO troops entered Kosovo.
Moreover, today in Kosovo itself — a partially recognized state in Southeast Europe, the Balkan Peninsula, and the geographical region of Kosovo — this day is considered festive: an important stage in the expulsion of ethnic Serbs from the territory where Serbian statehood arose almost 1000 years ago is noted.