Unprecedented Serbian Troop Build-up Raises Alarm: Unveiling the Heightened Tensions on Kosovo Border

The fragile relationship between Kosovo and Serbia is once again unsettled following one of the most severe instances of violence in years. The recent escalation was sparked by the tragic killing of a Kosovar police officer, followed by a shootout at a monastery last weekend. However, the underlying tensions trace back to the 1990s and the breakup of the former Yugoslavia.

The White House has expressed concern over an alarming increase in advanced Serbian artillery, tanks, and mechanized infantry units near the Kosovo frontier. They are urging for an immediate de-escalation. CNN examines the various factors contributing to this situation.

A history of ethnic tensions

Kosovo, a region located in what is currently the Balkans, officially proclaimed its independence from Serbia in 2008. It is noteworthy to mention that this declaration occurred after a tumultuous period marked by the 1998-99 war. During this conflict, Kosovar Albanians actively pursued secession from the Federal Republic of Yugoslavia, which constituted Serbia and Montenegro at that time. This war served as the climax of long-standing tensions, spanning decades, between the Albanian and Serb communities residing in the region.

During the war, NATO intervened to protect Kosovos Albanian majority.

A Kosovo police officer stands guard in front of a vehicle with a cracked window in Banjska.

Ognen Teofilovski/Reuters

The fragile peace in Kosovo has been maintained for over 20 years, although Serbia still refuses to acknowledge Kosovo's independence. The Serb minority in Kosovo considers themselves a part of Serbia and regards Belgrade as their capital instead of Pristina. The majority of Serbs in Kosovo, who make up less than a tenth of the total population, reside in the northern regions and have been asking for increased autonomy from the ethnic Albanian majority.

Disputes regarding the degree of autonomy for the minority Serbs continue, with the ethnic group occasionally resorting to violent resistance against actions by Pristina that they perceive as being against the interests of the Serb community.

Whats caused the latest flare-up?

Last Sunday, a confrontation occurred between the police and approximately 30 heavily armed Serbian men as a result of an ambush that resulted in the death of one Kosovo police officer and the injury of another. Following the ambush, a shootout ensued in the village of Banjska in northern Kosovo, during which the police reported killing three armed attackers and apprehending one. According to the police, some of the gunfire occurred in close proximity to a Serbian Orthodox monastery.

Officials previously reported discovering "logistic equipment, suspected military vehicles, military uniforms, and various caliber weapons and ammunition" at a residential site utilized by the assailants.

Similar to other northern villages, Banjska consists mainly of Serbian inhabitants.

Prime Minister Albin Kurti labeled the shooting in Banjska on Sunday morning as a "terror attack" orchestrated by alleged "Serbian criminal gangs," according to a Facebook post. This recent outbreak of violence occurred after a previous period of unrest in May, during which numerous NATO peacekeepers were injured in attacks by ethnic Serbs in northern Kosovo.

Violence erupted following the attempt of Serbian demonstrators to obstruct the inauguration of newly elected mayors of Albanian descent in the town of Zvecan in the north, which resulted from a controversial election in April.

What are both sides saying?

Kosovo's President, Vjosa Osmani, accused Belgrade of provoking the violent incidents that occurred on Sunday. Serbian President, Aleksandar Vucic, refuted these claims, stating that Serbia has no interest in jeopardizing its position in the EU-sponsored normalization talks with Pristina, as reported by Reuters.

Vucic criticized the Kosovo police for fatally shooting one of the armed attackers in the head, even though he had already surrendered "from a meter away." This act was described as an "execution" by Vucic, according to Reuters. The President has promised to look into the circumstances of the violent incident, including the source of the weapons confiscated by the Kosovo police afterwards.

Kosovo police officers display seized weapons and military equipment during the police operation in Banjska.

Visar Kryeziu/AP

Milan Radoicic, a prominent Serb politician from Kosovo, claimed to have participated in the gun battle, according to Reuters. In a letter sent to the news agency by his attorney, Radoicic, who is wanted in Kosovo and currently resides in Serbia, stated that he personally organized the logistical support for protecting the Serbian community and received no assistance from Serbian authorities.

How is the rest of the world reacting?

The White House has warned that the incident represents a threat to the safety of not only Kosovo personnel, but international personnel including NATO troops.

According to Kosovo authorities, the attack, which led to the death of a Kosovo Police Sergeant, involved a minimum of 30 individuals, as stated by National Security Council coordinator for strategic communications, John Kirby, during a press conference on Friday. Kirby emphasized that this was not a random or spontaneous attack conducted by a small group. The discovered quantity and variety of weapons pose a danger not only to Kosovo personnel but also to international personnel, including NATO troops.

He stated that the United States is currently monitoring a significant Serbian military deployment along the Kosovo border.

"We consider this a highly destabilizing development, which has been occurring over the past week or so. Therefore, we urge Serbia to withdraw these forces from the border and work towards de-escalation," he emphasized.

Additional forces have been authorized for Kosovo by NATO Secretary General Jens Stoltenberg in response to the fatal shootout. Stoltenberg also urged for de-escalation. Reporting by Christian Edwards, Radina Gigova, Josh Pennington, Eve Brennan, and Alex Stambaugh contributed to CNN.