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'''The Kosovo War''' (also known as Operation Allied Force) was fought in 1999 between [[Serbia]] and [[NATO]]. NATO forces, under the command of General [[Wesley Clark]], bombed the Serbs for 75 days to stop an alleged Serb campaign of ethnic cleansing against Kosovar [[Albania]]ns.  While efforts were made to minimize civilian casualties and the Serbian military was genearlly well hidden to avoid taking much damage, the Serbs capitulated under increasing use of bombing and destroying industrial targets.  Indeed, the damage to their economy continued far beyond the war's end.

'''The Kosovo War''' (also known as Operation Allied Force) was fought in 1999 between [[Serbia]] and [[NATO]]. NATO forces, under the command of General [[Wesley Clark]], bombed the Serbs for 75 days to stop an alleged Serb campaign of ethnic cleansing against Kosovar [[Albania]]ns.  While efforts were made to minimize civilian casualties and the Serbian military was genearlly well hidden to avoid taking much damage, the Serbs capitulated under increasing use of bombing and destroying industrial targets.  Indeed, the damage to their economy continued far beyond the war's end.

The air campaign kicked off on March 24.  NATO bombers and ships attacked air defense sites, command and control centers, army bases, and support facilities.  Serbian air defenses were particularly hard hit from the beginning, but they did score a major coup when an [[F-117]] stealth fighter was downed on the fourth day of fighting (the pilot was rescued).  Serbian air defense fighters also attempted to stop the strikes, but three [[MiG-29]]s were downed on the first day, two by American [[F-15 Eagle|F-15s]] and one by a Dutch [[F-16]], and two more were shot down two days later by F-15 pilot Jeff Hwang.<ref>F''-15C Eagle Units in Combat'', by Steve Davies, Osprey Publishing, 2005</ref>

The air campaign kicked off on March 24.  NATO bombers and ships attacked air defense sites, command and control centers, army bases, and support facilities.  Serbian air defenses were particularly hard hit from the beginning, but they did score a major coup when an [[F-117]] stealth fighter was downed on the fourth day of fighting (the pilot was rescued).  Serbian air defense fighters also attempted to stop the strikes, but three [[MiG-29]]s were downed on the first day, two by American [[F-15 Eagle|F-15s]] and one by a Dutch [[F-16]], and two more were shot down two days later by F-15 pilot Jeff Hwang.<ref>F''-15C Eagle Units in Combat'', by Steve Davies, Osprey Publishing, 2005</ref>

By early June, [[Slobodan Milosevic]] was ready to negotiate, and by June 9, an agreement had been reached for Serbian forces to leave Kosovo.  The 75-day campaign had seen about 37,000 sorties and over 300 cruise missiles launched.  NATO combat losses were two aircraft shot down by SAMs, and no casualties.<ref>''The Collapse of Yugoslavia'', by Alastair Finlan, Osprey Publishing, 2004</ref>   

By early June, [[Slobodan Milosevic]] was ready to negotiate, and by June 9, an agreement had been reached for Serbian forces to leave Kosovo.  The 75-day campaign had seen about 37,000 sorties and over 300 cruise missiles launched.  NATO combat losses were two aircraft shot down by SAMs, and no casualties.<ref>''The Collapse of Yugoslavia'', by Alastair Finlan, Osprey Publishing, 2004</ref>   

NATO forces occupied [[Kosovo]] as Albanians who had fled during the conflict returned.  They were generally unable to protect Serbian Christians living in Kosovo, the founding place of the [[Serbian Orthodox Church]], and the majority of the Serbian Christian population has since fled.  Kosovo's parliament declared independence from Serbia in 2008, a move that was not accepted by Serbia, but received the support of NATO, bypassing the [[United Nations]].  [[Russia]], who has veto power in the United Nations, was not pleased at the move that it considered to be a heavyhanded slap against its traditional ally Serbia.

NATO forces occupied [[Kosovo]] as Albanians who had fled during the conflict returned.  They were generally unable to protect Serbian Christians living in Kosovo, the founding place of the [[Serbian Orthodox Church]], and the majority of the Serbian Christian population has since fled.  Kosovo's parliament declared independence from Serbia in 2008, a move that was not accepted by Serbia, but received the support of NATO, bypassing the [[United Nations]].  [[Russia]], who has veto power in the United Nations, was not pleased at the move that it considered to be a heavyhanded slap against its traditional ally Serbia.  

   

   

==See also==

==See also==