10. The Balkan Wars and NATO’s First Combat Operations (1990s)
The 1990s Balkan conflicts compelled NATO to undertake its first combat operations. In Bosnia, NATO enforced a no-fly zone and conducted airstrikes against Bosnian Serb forces. The 1994 Goražde air strikes marked NATO’s initial engagement with ground targets, aiming to halt Serbian offensives. In Kosovo, NATO initiated Operation Eagle Eye in 1998 to monitor compliance with UN resolutions. However, escalating violence led to Operation Allied Force in 1999, a 78-day bombing campaign against Yugoslav forces, culminating in their withdrawal from Kosovo. These interventions tested NATO’s unity and effectiveness in crisis management (usip.org).
