NATO is deploying additional forces in Kosovo

The command of the NATO Joint Forces in Naples announced that the deployment of additional forces in Kosovo had begun in support of the KFOR forces.

"NATO is deploying additional forces in Kosovo, in response to the recent unrest and the wounding of 30 members of the NATO forces for Kosovo. NATO ordered the deployment of the Operational Reserve of its forces (ORF) to the Western Balkans, which were on a seven-day alert," it is stated in announced the Joint Forces Command on Twitter.

An additional multinational reserve force battalion was ordered to reduce its deployment readiness status from fourteen days to seven days so that it would be ready to reinforce KFOR if needed.

"The deployment of additional NATO forces in Kosovo is a prudent measure to ensure that KFOR has the capabilities it needs to maintain security in accordance with our mandate from the UN Security Council. I want to commend KFOR for taking quick, restrained, and professional actions to stop the unrest and save lives. The violence must stop and all parties must stop taking actions that undermine peace in all communities in Kosovo," Commander of the Joint Allied Forces Command in Naples, Admiral Stuart Munsch said.

The NATO command in Naples stated that it was closely monitoring the situation in Kosovo and that it would continue to coordinate with KFOR to ensure that it had all the necessary forces and capabilities needed to impartially provide a safe environment and freedom of movement for all communities, and in accordance with its mandate based on Resolution 1244 of the UN Security Council from 1999.