Ukrainian soldier on foot patrolling in Serbian village near Brezovica

The Kosovo Force (KFOR) is a NATO-led international force responsible for establishing and maintaining security in Kosovo.

This peace-enforcement force entered Kosovo on June 12 1999 under a United Nations mandate, two days after the adoption of UN Security Council Resolution 1244.

Background

Prior to the establishment of KFOR, Kosovo was facing a grave humanitarian crisis. Military and paramilitary forces from the Federal Republic of Yugoslavia (FRY) and the Kosovo Liberation Army (KLA) were fighting day and night. Ethnic tensions were at their highest and claimed the lives of many. Nearly one million people had fled Kosovo to seek refuge where their lives would not be endangered.

Objectives

The objectives of KFOR are to establish and maintain a secure environment in Kosovo, including public safety and order; to monitor, verify and when necessary, enforce compliance with the agreements that ended the conflict; and to provide assistance to the UN Mission in Kosovo (UNMIK).

Structure

KFOR contingents are grouped into four multinational brigades. Although brigades are responsible for a specific area of operations, they all fall under a single chain of command under the authority of Commander KFOR.

Contributing nations

KFOR troops come from 30 NATO and Non-NATO nations:

1. NATO Nations

Belgium, Bulgaria, Canada, Czech Republic, Denmark, Estonia, France, Germany, Greece, Hungary, Iceland, Italy, Lithuania, Luxembourg, The Netherlands, Norway, Poland, Portugal, Romania, Slovakia, Slovenia, Spain, Turkey, United Kingdom, United States

2. Non-NATO Nations

Argentina, Armenia, Austria, Azerbaijan, Finland, Georgia, Ireland, Morocco, Russia, Sweden, Switzerland, Ukraine, United Arab Emirates

External links

• KFOR official site (NATO) (http://www.nato.int/kfor/welcome.html)

KFOR is also the television call sign for the NBC network affiliate in Oklahoma City, Oklahoma. It broadcasts on channel 4.