Several NATO soldiers injured in clashes in northern Kosovo Energy-saving air conditioning modeled on termite mounds

Numerous soldiers from the NATO-led Kosovo Protection Force KFOR were injured in clashes in Serb-populated northern Kosovo. Several uniformed soldiers from Italy and Hungary suffered fractures and burns in attacks by militant Serbs in the village of Zvecan, the KFOR command said in Pristina on Monday night. Italian Foreign Minister Antonio Tajani spoke on Twitter about eleven wounded Italians from the KFOR contingent. Three of them suffered serious but non-life threatening injuries. Also among the injured were 20 Hungarian KFOR soldiers, the Budapest news portal hvg.hu wrote, citing diplomatic circles.

NATO has strongly condemned the attacks on KFOR forces. “Such attacks are completely unacceptable. The violence must stop immediately. We call on all sides to refrain from actions that further fuel tensions and to engage in dialogue,” a spokeswoman for the military alliance said. KFOR will take all necessary measures to maintain a safe environment. Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni also condemned the attack. “What is happening here is absolutely unacceptable and irresponsible. We will not tolerate any further attacks on KFOR,” she said in a statement Monday evening.

The clashes took place on Monday afternoon as militant Serbs protested against the appointment of new mayors in Zvecan and other municipalities. KFOR soldiers securing the municipal office in Zvecan broke up the protest, which turned violent, local media reported. They used stun grenades and tear gas. The mob in turn threw stones, incendiary bombs, bottles and other objects at them. A Serb was injured by gunfire, the hospital in the nearby town of Mitrovica said. Another 52 Serbs were hospitalized there with injuries, the hospital said.

The approximately 300 KFOR soldiers had taken up positions in combat gear in front of the municipal office in Zvecan earlier on Monday morning. At the same time, a large number of Serb demonstrators had gathered in front of the official building. The KFOR troops should be protecting the office building instead of the Kosovo special police. He had been given access to the city office last Friday, which had already led to violent protests by militant Serbs.

The police had escorted the new mayor, an Albanian who wanted to take office. Serbs are also protesting in two other places in northern Kosovo, where Albanian mayors have also taken over. The three were elected in April, with almost all Serbs boycotting the election. That is why the election winners come from Albanian parties. The previous Serbian mayors resigned from their positions in November 2022 in protest against the Kosovo government’s policies.

The escalation came on Monday when the Serb mob in Zvecan refused to let Kosovar police vehicles still parked there drive away. The KFOR team then broke off the meeting.

Kosovo, now almost exclusively inhabited by Albanians, declared independence in 2008. Serbia does not recognize the state of its former province and demands its return. At the same time, it repeatedly creates tensions among the Serbian population of Kosovo. In 1999, Belgrade responded to an armed uprising by Kosovar Albanians by expelling and massacring civilians. NATO then intervened with bombing and forced the withdrawal of Serbian security forces from Kosovo. A UN Security Council decision in the same year entrusted KFOR with ensuring security in Kosovo. (sda/dpa)