Anti aircraft fire above Belgrade during NATO’s bombing of the city, 1999.

In Spring 1999, following a final ultimatum to President Miloshevic, NATO commenced bombing both Serb forces in Kosovo and Serbia itself. Hundreds of thousands of ethnic Albanians were forced to leave Kosovo to become refugees on the borders of Macedonia and Albania. The NATO attacks resulted in the Yugoslav army withdrawing from Kosovo, but not before many civilians had also been killed. The mass return of Albanian refugees led to reprisals against Serb civilians, forcing many to become refugees themselves. The Kosovo Roma, perceived as having collaborated with Serb forces, also faced reprisals attacks resulting in widespread displacement.