2,000 civilians died during 78 days of devastating NATO airstrikes on Yugoslavia in 1999, when citizens of a European country became accustomed to war-heads flying over their heads, hiding in bomb shelters and praying for their loved ones to stay alive.
US President Bill Clinton calls the bombing “humanitarian intervention” adding “It is also important to America's national interest”.
Clinton announced the bombing of Serbia. Thousands died. (AFP Photo)
NATO aircraft take off from bases in Italy and Germany, the first of 1,000 sorties under operation ‘Noble Anvil’ (seriously).
A US F-15C takes off from Cervia air base on a NATO mission over Yugoslavia 24 March, 1999. (AFP Photo)
NATO launch Tomahawk missiles with 1,000-pound warheads from ships in the Mediterranean and Adriatic at military facilities in Pristina, Podgorica, Batajnica and an air base near Belgrade.
A Tomahawk cruise missile is launched from the US Navy cruiser USS Philippine Sea 25 March 1999. (AFP Photo)
For the first time Serbian night skies are lit by fire from a NATO explosion.
A police training center in Novi Sad burns 25 March 1999, Tanjug. (AFP Photo)
At an emergency UNSC meeting only Russia, China and Namibia support a resolution condemning NATO’s aggression.
Sergey Lavrov, Russia's ambassador to the United Nations, at UNSC emergency meeting 26 March, 1999 (AFP Photo/Stan Honda)
NATO insists it will only bomb military targets in Yugoslavia, regularly issuing photos to support the claim.
A NATO photo published 28th March 1999 of Podgorica air base after NATO bombed it. (AFP Photo)
However, the so-called “humanitarian intervention” killed 2,000 civilians.
Relatives and friends mourn six Serbian TV workers killed by NATO April 26. (Reuters)
NATO destroyed homes and schools, libraries and hospitals, dismissing it as ‘collateral damage’.
Vehicles burn outside a hospital in Belgrade after NATO air strikes May 20. (Reuters)
A target became protest symbol. Anti-NATO demonstrators would use them in Belgrade and around the world.
Serbs give an Orthodox ‘salute’ during a central Belgrade protest against NATO airstrikes March 29. (Reuters)
In April, Belgrade announced a unilateral ceasefire to mark the Orthodox Easter and made an offer to allow refugees to return to Kosovo. The West replied with another night of bombing.
Pristina residents search through the rubble after a NATO missile hits the centre of Kosovo's capital early April 7. (Reuters)
Thousands of people spent nights in bomb shelters.
A woman feeds her baby in a Belgrade bomb shelter after air raid sirens went of May 8. (Reuters)
In late May NATO plunged Belgrade into darkness, destroying a power plant that supplied much of Serbia.
A boy watches his mother prepare food in Belgrade May 23. (Reuters)
NATO either completely destroyed or damaged 40,000 homes.
A man in front of his house after a daylight May 7 NATO raid over Nis. (Reuters)
Refineries and chemical plants all over Serbia were destroyed, polluting the region’s ecology and damaging public health.
Smoke looms over Belgrade from the Pancevo chemical plant after NATO air strike April 18. (Reuters)
15 years after the NATO bombings, Serbia is still haunted by the memories of the aggression which cost it hundreds of lives.
A woman walks in front of the former federal Interior Ministry in Belgrade, destroyed by NATO March 22, 2014. (AFP Photo)
