The tension that had been boiling for weeks exploded. In Kosovo, 34 soldiers from the NATO-led international military force KFOR were badly injured in clashes with Serb demonstrators in Zvecan on Monday. Of the 34 injured, 14 are Italian. Some were seriously shot with Molotov cocktails, but their lives are not in danger. What happened, why are there Italian soldiers in Kosovo and how are the wounded?
Molotov to NATO soldiers
Extremist Serbian nationalists wanted to prevent the appointment of an ethnic Albanian mayor in Zvecan, a small town in northern Kosovo, a short distance from the Serbian border. KFOR soldiers came face-to-face with Serbian demonstrators besieging the Town Hall, after repeatedly warning and calling for the lifting of the blockade, which also impedes the movement of local police vehicles.
The NATO army intervened with batons, tear gas and deafening bombs. The Serbs began to heavily throw stones, bottles, Molotov cocktails and other objects.
Who and how are the Italians injured in Kosovo?
The budget is too heavy. At first it was mentioned that 41 soldiers were involved, but in the evening KFOR command reported that 34 soldiers of various nationalities were injured. There are 14 Italians among them, they belong to the 9th L’Aquila Alpine Regiment. Three were seriously injured: burns and fractures from Molotov cocktails. I have no life threatening.
The commander of the KFOR mission, the Italian general Angelo Michele Ristuccia, expressed his solidarity with the wounded soldiers, stated that he was following the development of the situation first hand and assured that the NATO contingent would remain “neutral”.
Describing the attack as “unacceptable and irresponsible” and warning that such other acts will not be tolerated, the interventions of Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni and Ministers of Foreign Affairs and Defense Antonio Tajani and Guido Crosetto wish the institutions closeness to the wounded soldiers and a speedy recovery.
Antonio Tajani, Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Foreign Affairs, telephoned Serbian President Aleksandr Vucic and Kosovo Prime Minister Albin Kurti, saying that “all violence and all provocations must be stopped immediately: Kosovo and Serbia must fully implement the agreements they signed, thanks to the facilitation of the European Union.” . Violence is unacceptable. Italy wants to contribute to a sustainable solution in northern Kosovo within a very short time.”
NATO strongly condemns the unprovoked attacks against KFOR troops in northern Kosovo, which resulted in a number of injuries. Such attacks are absolutely unacceptable. Violence must stop immediately. We invite all parties to refrain from actions that will escalate tensions and engage in dialogue. KFOR will take all necessary measures to maintain a safe and secure environment and will continue to act impartially in accordance with its mandate under 1999 United Nations Security Council Resolution 1244.”
52 Serbs were also injured in the clashes. Serbian President Vucic accused KFOR of failing to defend the Serbian people who are objecting to the election of new mayors.
Conflicts are much more than a border situation warning. Fear is when tensions explode, leading to new or even worse violence. Pristina’s leadership – President Vjosa Osmani and Prime Minister Albin Kurti – underlined the regular April 23 elections, pointing to Belgrade and the illegal structures it maintains in northern Kosovo. Serbian authorities accuse Pristina of wanting to invade the north in order to drive out the local Serb population. In the evening’s live broadcast, Vucic confirmed that troops had been dispatched to the Kosovo border.
What is Kfor?
Operation KFifor began at dawn on June 12, 1999. The Italian contingent reached the city of Pec on the morning of 14 June.
Previously, NATO troops were deployed at FYROM as part of the “Joint (Designated) Guarantor” operation (under the command of the Allied Rapid Response Corps) to provide (December 1998):
- initially, the emergency evacuation of OSCE observers from Kosovo;
- Support to humanitarian organizations to assist refugees leaving Kosovo.
Over the years, the forces in the field have been remodeled several times. 28 countries are currently participating in the “Joint Venture” operation in Kosovo, 20 of which belong to NATO and 8 partners, and today the total force commitment reaches approximately 3,800 units.
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Source: Today IT
Karen Clayton is a seasoned journalist and author at The Nation Update, with a focus on world news and current events. She has a background in international relations, which gives her a deep understanding of the political, economic and social factors that shape the global landscape. She writes about a wide range of topics, including conflicts, political upheavals, and economic trends, as well as humanitarian crisis and human rights issues.
