200 British soldiers deployed by NATO in Kosovo
200 British soldiers have arrived in Kosovo's Pristina to reinforce the Kosovo Force (KFOR) to ensure security in Kosovo. The reinforcement was carried out at the request of the Supreme Allied Commander Europe. These additional troops join the existing 400-strong British contingent already stationed in Kosovo as part of KFOR.
200 British soldiers have arrived in Kosovo's Pristina to reinforce the Kosovo Force (KFOR) to ensure security in Kosovo.
According to a statement published on the British government's website, some soldiers of the British support battalion under the North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO) command have arrived in Kosovo.
"A 200-strong contingent of British troops arrived in Pristina today to reinforce the peacekeeping mission of the NATO contingent in Kosovo (KFOR)." NATO emphasized.
The deployment was carried out at the request of the Supreme Allied Commander Europe following the attack on Kosovo police on 24 September and the increasing tension in the region. In a written statement from NATO, the first contingent of 200 British soldiers arrived in Kosovo today to reinforce NATO's Peacekeeping Kosovo Force (KFOR).
"The soldiers joined the 400-strong British contingent already in Kosovo," NATO noted.
WHAT HAPPENED
Tensions in northern Kosovo, which had been ongoing for months, escalated again on the morning of September 24 when a policeman was killed when armed Serbs blocking a road in Banjska, a predominantly Serbian town, opened fire.
Kosovo Prime Minister Albin Kurti announced that a heavily armed group of about 30 people, described as a "professional terrorist / criminal organization", attacked the Kosovo police and held Serbia responsible for the incident.
The armed group, which took refuge in and around the Banjska Monastery, was surrounded by Kosovo police and clashes continued throughout the day in the region.
Kosovo's Interior Minister announced that at least 3 attackers were killed in the operation organised in Banjska and 6 people were detained, including 2 attackers and 4 people who supported the attack with radio connections.
Serbian President Alexander Vucic confirmed that the incident, which resulted in the death of a Kosovo policeman, was carried out by Kosovo Serbs.
Source: Newsroom
