Media: NATO forces deployed to the North of Kosovo
NATO is concerned about media reports that a Kosovar military action is being prepared in the North of the Republic in order to gain military control over territory populated mainly by Serbians.
According to the newspaper Večernje Novosti, due to the risk of the situation spiraling out of control, units from the NATO International mission in Kosovo and Kosovo Forces (KFOR) were deployed to the North of Kosovo in Mađunsko village in the Vučitrn municipality, between Priština and Kosovska Mitrovica.
NATO stated that the official purpose of the redeployment was a planned military exercise but media reports indicate that the situation in the North of Kosovo may rapidly deteriorate within the next forty-eight hours. A large force of NATO’s military equipment blocked the Kosovska-Mitrovica highway for a long period of time. The equipment was also transferred by helicopters.
Kosovo’s declaration of independence from Serbia has earned mixed recognition from the international community. Earlier, it was reported that Albania is planning to abolish the border with Kosovo and start free movement between the countries from January 1, 2019.