Widening Conflict
Throughout 1997 and into 1998 the KLA carried out bombings against Serb targets. These actions brought a reaction from the Serbs that included the killings and the burning of homes of many Albanians in the Drenica region of Kosovo.
Ibrahim Rugova, refused to compromise and demanded complete independence for Kosovo.
By April the international community, with the exception of Russia a historical ally of Serbia, agreed to impose economic sanctions against Serbia because of the ongoing violence.
Although there were peace talks taking place between the Serbian and the Albanian representatives in Kosovo the fighting continued with a massive Serbian offensive in August. The KLA stronghold of Junik fell on August 16.
The Serbian offensive continued in September with reports of civilians being massacred. This prompted a United Nations Security Council resolution demanding a ceasefire. By October 1998 NATO called on foreign nationals to leave Yugoslavia in preparations for air strikes. With this threat, Yugoslavia agreed to allow international diplomatic observers to enter the region to monitor the ceasefire.
The international monitors arrived late in 1998 and reported that both the Albanians and Serbs were violating the ceasefire agreement. In January 1999 evidence surfaced that the Serbian forces have carried out an execution of over forty Albanian civilians.
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