NATO objectives, as stated by US President Bill Clinton were:

• To demonstrate NATO's resolve
• To deter Belgrade from launching more offensives against Kosovo
• To degrade Yugoslavia's military capabilities to carry out future attacks against Kosovo Albanians

NATO resumed strikes on Yugoslavia in the mid-afternoon of Friday 26^th March 1999, and air-to-air action saw NATO fighters shoot down two Yugoslav MiG warplanes over Bosnia. Cruise missile attacks launched the first daytime raids on Yugoslavia. B-52s from RAF Fairford were also involved for the second time. Russia failed to force a resolution through to stop the NATO air attacks at the UN Security council. Only three members, Russia, China and Namibia voted in support of the resolution, while Russia expelled NATO personnel from the NATO office in Moscow. Greece said that NATO should stop the attacks and return to the negotiating table, as Italy did the day before.

Attacks continued on Saturday, but bad weather stopped many aircraft from launching their weapons, so the emphasis shifted to missile attacks until the weather cleared up. NATO suffered its first loss during the evening, with an American F-117 Nighthawk Stealth Fighter crashing west of Belgrade, due to an unknown cause. Although the Serbs claimed it was shot down, the pilot was rescued and returned to his Italian base safely. The British Prime Minister, Tony Blair, promised more British aircraft for the NATO air offensive, including four British Harriers and eight Tornado GR1 bombers, as well as a Tristar tanker. Ethnic Albanian Kosovar refugees from Serbian reprisal attacks flooded into Macedonia and Albania. B-52s also took part in the attack, with several B-52s flying back to the USA and being replaced by others later.

In order to aid Albania with the flood of refugees a NATO force was established to help cope, AFOR, and was commanded by British Lieutenant General John Reith.

Sunday saw more attacks, and Macedonia asked for urgent entry into NATO, fearing Serbian reprisals. The Harrier reinforcements left England in the morning and arrived in Italy later that day. Again B-52s took part in the attack.

On Monday, NATO opened its first true daylight air attacks involving American A-10 ground-attack aircraft, now concentrating on Yugoslav military targets in and around Kosovo. The attacks were started in response to Serbian suppression of the Kosovar people. More Kosovar people flooded into the neighbouring countries as NATO air strikes continued on Tuesday, with RAF Harriers taking part in their first daylight attacks.

Tuesday saw attacks continue, and Wednesday saw three US soldiers captured by the Yugoslav military. NATO insisted that the soldiers were in Macedonia, but the Serbian government said the soldiers were in Kosovo, and Yugoslavia planned to try the soldiers in a Military Court. 

Strikes continued on Thursday and Friday. The USA promised more Stealth Fighters and B-1B 'Lancer' bombers joined the strikes for the first time. NATO continued to target Yugoslav army units in Kosovo and their fuel supplies. Saturday and Sunday saw more strikes against Yugoslav Army units engaged in 'ethnic cleansing' and the countries infrastructure, and fuel supplies. NATO troops began to erect shelters for the mass of Kosovar refugees in Macedonia and aid flights continued into Albania and Macedonia.

RAF Tornados joined the attacks on Serbia on Sunday night (4/5^th April). Attacks continued on Monday and Tuesday with RAF Harriers bombing ground targets in Kosovo. Yugoslavia called a ceasefire from 7pm London time on Tuesday 6/4/99 but NATO rejected the ceasefire saying it did not meet their requirements for Yugoslav withdrawal from Kosovo and the ability for NATO troops to act as peacekeepers in the area.

Massive numbers of Kosovo Albanians vanished from the border, and NATO was concerned about their fate, Wednesday 6^th and Thursday 7^th April 1999. Strikes continued against Yugoslav targets, especially troops operational in Kosovo. On Friday 9/4/99 a statement by the speaker of the Russian parliament led to the fact that Russia had targeted its missiles on NATO countries, but this was quickly denied by the Russian military. Russia continued to oppose the air strikes and warned the NATO allies not to send in ground troops or it might force Russia to get involved militarily. The Russian President, Boris Yeltsin, warned of another European, possibly World War.

On Saturday the Chinese also added their voice to the argument surrounding the air strikes. The UK announced that HMS Invincible would be sent and the USA announced another 82 aircraft were being sent to the region.
On Sunday 11/4/99 Albania ceded its ports, airspace and military installations to NATO control. Serbian TV showed an Australian aid worker apparently confessing to spying for NATO. NATO was becoming concerned for the hundreds of thousands of Kosovar refugees reported to be in hiding in the Kosovar hills. Serbian artillery also struck across the Albanian border killing two civilians and wounding several more.

NATO asked the US for 300 more aircraft, and 500 from all countries were requested. Russia accused the United States of arming the KLA and Britain deployed 1,800 more troops to the area. The British Prime Minister told the Commons that the reinforcements would consist of a second armoured battle group on Tuesday 13^th April 1999.

On Wednesday 13/4/99, NATO aircraft destroyed a civilian refugee convoy by accident. Wednesday 21/4/99 saw NATO bomb the headquarters of the Serbian Police, and the following night the Serbian TV Station in Belgrade. The Serbian government put forward a peace proposal, which involved unarmed UN peacekeepers, which was rejected by NATO as insufficient. At the 50^th Anniversary summit of NATO, an oil embargo was announced against Yugoslavia and NATO announced it was seeking a UN resolution calling for Yugoslav withdrawal from Kosovo and an autonomous government for the province.

Britain agreed to send more planes to the conflict on Thursday 29^th April. The day also saw NATO bomb a bridge, and destroy a civilian bus that was crossing the bridge in Kosovo. HMS Ocean was ordered to the area on Sunday 2^nd May.

On 3^rd May RAF Harriers were in action against Serbian military and police units in Kosovo. 3^rd May saw 17 sorties flown by RAF Harriers, all of the same mission type.
 

4th May saw RAF Harriers fly 8 sorties. Up to 6th May, RAF aircraft had flown 800 plus sorties for NATO, and 4 more Harriers arrived in Italy. 7th May saw RAF Harriers attack Sjenica Airfield with 1000lb bombs, but adverse weather continued to disrupt other combat missions. Also on 7th May NATO bombed the Chinese embassy by mistake, due to an outdated map, outraging China. 8th May, NATO announced it had flown over 18,000 operational sorties. RAF Harriers flew 16 sorties.

May 10^th saw RAF Harriers and Tornados in action again during a period of improved weather. 11^th May saw 20 attacks by RAF Harriers, with the same number on the 12^th May. The Duke of York and the Armed Forces Minister visited the British forces in Italy at Gioia del Colle.

May 25^th saw NATO attack the Ministry of Internal Affairs in Belgrade. RAF strikes by Tornado and Harrier aircraft continued. Several blunders occurred during the last weeks of the campaigns including several attacks on bridges that were in use at the time of attack.

On 4^th June the Serbian Parliament accepted a G8 peace agreement, and talks between Serbian and NATO generals for the Serbian withdrawal from Kosovo began on 5^th June at an Albanian border town, and the Serbian evacuation of Kosovo was to be completed within seven days. NATO bombing continued until evidence of Serbian withdrawal was confirmed. 6^th June saw a detachment of the Parachute Regiment leave for the Balkans as the first reinforcements for the NATO peacekeeping force if the peace plan went ahead.

The Serbian military continued to stall the peace plan, and on Tuesday 8^th June, G8 countries drafted a peace proposal, and Russia offered troops for the peace implementation force. NATO bombing continued.

Serbia finally signed the G8 Peace Plan on Thursday 10^th June, and NATO air strikes were suspended on Friday. In the early hours of Saturday, Russian troops reached Pristina, while British troops were delayed waiting for US troops to reach the Kosovo Border.

NATO had mounted 38,004 strikes in 10,484 sorties, the United Kingdom having contributed 1,618 strikes in 1,008 sorties. 23,614 air munitions with 1,011 released by UK forces. These were 230 1,000lb bombs, 226 Paveway IIs, 18 Paveway IIIs, 531 RBL 755 and 6 ALARM missiles. By the end of the operation the UK RAF had deployed 16 Harrier GR7, 12 Tornado GR1, Three E3D AEW Sentry, one Nimrod, four Tristar and five VC10 aircraft as well as eight Chinook, six Puma and 4 Lynx helicopters. The Royal Navy contributed seven Sea Harrier FA2s to the air campaign, which mounted combat air patrols.

The surrounding countries feared escalation across their own borders, as well as reprisal attacks against UN troops based in Bosnia and Macedonia, where the US embassy was set ablaze. 4,000 British troops were in Macedonia waiting permission to enter Kosovo as peacekeeping troops, but NATO leaders had reiterated time and again that there would be no ground war.
 

NATO

8,000 troops in Macedonia, including a British contingent. Britain also has troops in Bosnia.

US Navy taskforce, including Tomahawk-armed submarines and ships.
Royal Navy task force including HMS Swiftsure, the first Royal Navy Tomahawk-armed attack submarine.

Yugoslav Forces

The Serbian Navy, which must operate from the Republic of Montenegro's coastline, has 4 submarines, 4 frigates and 7,500 men.

The Serbian Army boasts 90,000 troops. 1,270 tanks, 570 armoured infantry fighting vehicles. 1,300 artillery guns and 60 SAM launchers including SA7, SA9 and SA13 missiles systems.
 

In December 2002, Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth awarded RAF participation in the operations over Kosovo and Yugoslavia with the award of the Battle Honour 'KOSOVO' to the squadrons who participated between 24th March and 20th June 1999. Nos.1, 9, 14 and 34 squadrons have the right to emblazon the honour on their squadron standard. No.7, 8, 23, 51, 101 and 216 are awarded the battle honour but without the right to emblazon the honour on their squadron standards.