War crimes in the Kosovo War

The War crimes in the Kosovo War (pronunciation: /ˈkɒsəvoʊ/ KOS-ə-voh; etymology: derived from Serbian: Косово, Kosovo, Albanian: Kosova) were a series of war crimes committed during the Kosovo War (1998–1999). These crimes were perpetrated by the Yugoslav security forces against the ethnic Albanian population, and by the Kosovo Liberation Army (KLA) against ethnic Serbs and Roma.

Background

The Kosovo War was an armed conflict in Kosovo, a province of Serbia, between the Federal Republic of Yugoslavia and the ethnic Albanian Kosovo Liberation Army (KLA). The war was characterized by a brutal campaign of ethnic cleansing and numerous war crimes.

War Crimes

War crimes in the Kosovo War included massacres, ethnic cleansing, systematic rape, and destruction of property. These crimes were committed by both sides of the conflict, with the majority being perpetrated by the Yugoslav security forces.

Massacres

Massacres were a common war crime during the Kosovo War. The most notorious of these was the Racak massacre, in which 45 ethnic Albanians were killed by Yugoslav security forces.

Ethnic Cleansing

Ethnic cleansing was another major war crime committed during the Kosovo War. This involved the systematic expulsion of ethnic Albanians from their homes, often accompanied by violence and intimidation.

Systematic Rape

Systematic rape was used as a weapon of war during the Kosovo War. This involved the widespread and systematic sexual assault of ethnic Albanian women by Yugoslav security forces.

Destruction of Property

Destruction of property was another common war crime during the Kosovo War. This involved the deliberate destruction of homes, schools, and other buildings belonging to the ethnic Albanian population.

Prosecution

Many of the war crimes committed during the Kosovo War were prosecuted by the International Criminal Tribunal for the former Yugoslavia (ICTY). This included the trial and conviction of former Yugoslav President Slobodan Milosevic.

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War crimes in the Kosovo War