The Kosovo War, also known as the Kosovo Conflict, took place from February 1998 to June 1999 in the region of Kosovo, a province of Serbia in the Federal Republic of Yugoslavia. The conflict stemmed from long-standing tensions between the ethnic Albanian majority in Kosovo and the Serbian government under President Slobodan Milošević. The Kosovo Liberation Army (KLA), seeking greater autonomy or independence for Kosovo, engaged in armed resistance against Serbian security forces, leading to a brutal conflict.

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Key events in the Kosovo War include the massacre in the village of Racak in January 1999, where Serbian forces were accused of killing dozens of ethnic Albanian civilians, which led to increased international pressure for intervention. Diplomatic efforts to resolve the crisis failed, leading to the NATO intervention known as Operation Allied Force in March 1999. NATO launched airstrikes against Yugoslav military targets, seeking to halt the ongoing violence against the ethnic Albanian population.

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Significant figures involved in the Kosovo War include Slobodan Milošević, the Serbian president who faced international condemnation for his government's actions in Kosovo, and Ibrahim Rugova, a leader of Kosovo's Albanian population who advocated for non-violent resistance. The war ended with the signing of the Kumanovo Agreement on June 9, 1999, which brought an end to the conflict and the withdrawal of Yugoslav forces from Kosovo. International peacekeeping forces, including NATO troops and the United Nations Mission in Kosovo (UNMIK), were subsequently deployed to the region to maintain stability and oversee the establishment of self-governance. The Kosovo War had lasting political, social, and humanitarian consequences, contributing to discussions about the responsibility to protect civilians and the challenges of post-conflict reconciliation.

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The timeline of events during the War in Kosovo (1998-1999):

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Start of the Conflict (Early 1998): 

Ethnic tensions between Kosovo Albanians and Serbian authorities escalated, leading to armed clashes and attacks by the Kosovo Liberation Army (KLA) against Serbian security forces.

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Racak Massacre (January 15, 1999):

Serbian security forces executed dozens of ethnic Albanian civilians in the village of Racak, drawing international condemnation.

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NATO's Rambouillet Conference (February - March 1999):

Diplomatic efforts to resolve the conflict took place in Rambouillet, France, but the negotiations failed to reach an agreement between the KLA, Kosovo Albanians, and the Serbian government.

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NATO Bombing Campaign (March 24 - June 10, 1999):

After failed negotiations, NATO launched a military intervention against Yugoslavia (then composed of Serbia and Montenegro) to halt the ethnic cleansing of Albanians in Kosovo.

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Refugee Crisis (March - June 1999):

The NATO bombing campaign and Serbian forces' actions triggered a massive refugee crisis, with hundreds of thousands of Kosovo Albanians fleeing their homes.

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End of the War (June 10, 1999):

After 78 days of bombing and intense diplomatic efforts, Serbia accepted NATO's conditions for a ceasefire, leading to the withdrawal of Yugoslav forces from Kosovo and the arrival of an international peacekeeping force (KFOR).

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UN Administration (June 10, 1999 - February 17, 2008):

Kosovo came under United Nations administration, with KFOR ensuring security and rebuilding efforts taking place in the aftermath of the conflict.