Was NATO bombing Kosovo legal?
Rachel Fowler
Updated on March 10, 2026
Was NATO bombing Kosovo legal?
NATO troops were subsequently deployed on the ground and remain there to this day. It should be noted, however, that the bombing was illegal. It was done without the authorisation of the UN Security Council.
How long did NATO bomb Kosovo?
78 days
NATO bombing of Yugoslavia
| Date | 24 March – 10 June 1999 (78 days) |
|---|---|
| Location | Federal Republic of Yugoslavia |
| Result | NATO victory: show Kumanovo Agreement |
| Territorial changes | UN Resolution 1244; de facto separation of Kosovo from Yugoslavia under UN temporary administration |
Did NATO commit war crimes in Kosovo?
The Serbian government and a number of international human rights groups (e.g., Amnesty International) claimed that NATO had carried out war crimes by bombing civilians. According to Human Rights Watch, between 489 and 528 civilians were killed by NATO airstrikes.
How many Albanians died in NATO bombing?
Among the victims were 16 children….NATO bombing of Albanian refugees near Gjakova.
| NATO bombing of Albanian refugees near Đakovica | |
|---|---|
| Date | 14 April 1999 13:30 hrs (CET) |
| Executed by | NATO |
| Casualties | 73 killed 36 injured |
How did NATO help Kosovo?
NATO has been leading a peace-support operation in Kosovo – the Kosovo Force (KFOR) – since June 1999. KFOR was established when NATO’s 78-day air campaign against Milosevic’s regime, aimed at putting an end to violence in Kosovo, was over.
What ended the Kosovo war?
March 5, 1998 – June 11, 1999
Kosovo War/Periods
Is Kosovo in NATO?
The Kosovo Force (KFOR) is a NATO-led international peacekeeping force in Kosovo. Its operations are gradually reducing until Kosovo’s Security Force, established in 2009, becomes self sufficient….
| Kosovo Force | |
|---|---|
| Role | Peacekeeping |
| Size | 3,802 personnel |
| Part of | North Atlantic Treaty Organization |
| Nickname(s) | “KFOR” |
