Tensions between Serbia and Kosovo have reached a critical level in recent days, following an attack by a heavily armed commando in a village in northern Kosovo. This escalation of violence has highlighted growing instability in the region, causing serious international concern.
The attack took place on September 24, 2023, when Kosovar police forces were informed of the presence of trucks blocking a road leading to Banjska, a village with a population of 465 inhabitants. On site, the police officers were targeted by a group of around thirty armed fighters, who killed one of the officers. After several hours of confrontation, the police managed to neutralize the attackers and arrest two shooters, while the others managed to escape.
What most concerned the Kosovar authorities was the discovery of an impressive arsenal in the hands of the attackers. Investigators found rocket launchers, drones, an armored vehicle, military uniforms, automatic rifles, mortars and even explosives. Such a quantity of weapons suggests that there was external support for this commando, and the Kosovar authorities point the finger at Serbia.
Indeed, relations between the two countries have been tense for years, with Serbia not recognizing the independence of Kosovo proclaimed in 2008. The Kosovar authorities therefore claim that this attack was an operation mounted from Serbia, with the complicity of certain local political leaders. A video published by the Kosovar police also shows one of the members of the commando, Milan Radoicic, who was then vice-president of the Serbian List for Kosovo, a party considered to be the political arm of Belgrade in this region.
Faced with these accusations, Serbian President Aleksandar Vucic tried to downplay the situation by claiming that it was a misunderstanding and stating that troops were in fact being withdrawn from the border. However, these explanations do not convince international observers, who fear that this attack is only a pretext to justify possible military actions on the part of Serbia.
In an international context already marked by a conflict in Ukraine and a crisis in Nagorno-Karabakh, a new outbreak of violence in the Balkans would be catastrophic for Europe. It is therefore essential that tensions between Serbia and Kosovo are eased and that diplomatic solutions are found to prevent any further clashes.
It is important to closely monitor developments in the region and support international mediation efforts to resolve this conflict. The stability of the Balkans is essential to guarantee peace in Europe, and only constructive cooperation between Serbia and Kosovo can achieve this.