Share
News
A man walks past a convoy of NATO-led peacekeeping force KFOR vehicles parked on a street in the town of Zvecan, northern Kosovo, Thursday.
A man walks past a convoy of NATO-led peacekeeping force KFOR vehicles parked on a street in the town of Zvecan, northern Kosovo, Thursday. (Bojan Slavkovic / AP)

Commando Battalion and 700 NATO Troops Headed to European Flashpoint After Violent Unrest

 By The Associated Press  June 3, 2023 at 4:40am
Share

The Turkish defense ministry announced Saturday it will be sending a commando battalion to northern Kosovo in response to a NATO request for troops to help quell violent unrest.

The request came from NATO’s Joint Force Command Naples, the ministry said in a press statement posted on its official Twitter account, and the battalion will join the alliance’s peacekeeping mission in the region, known as KFOR, as a reserve unit.

A defense ministry official said around 500 Turkish troops would be going to Kosovo.

The official spoke on condition of anonymity, in line with ministry regulations.

NATO announced on Tuesday that it would be sending 700 troops to bolster the force in the area.

KFOR currently consists of almost 3,800 troops, including some 350 from Turkey.

Violent clashes with ethnic Serbs on Monday left 30 international soldiers — 11 Italians and 19 Hungarians — wounded, including fractures and burns from improvised explosive incendiary devices.

The clashes grew out of a confrontation that unfolded earlier after ethnic Albanian officials elected in votes overwhelmingly boycotted by Serbs entered municipal buildings to take office and were blocked by Serbs.

“We urge restraint and dialogue to resolve these developments in northern Kosovo which endanger regional security and stability,” the Turkish statement read.

Will violence in the Balkans escalate?

The Turkish commando battalion will be deploying to the Sultan Murat Barracks in Kosovo on Sunday and Monday.

The Western Journal has reviewed this Associated Press story and may have altered it prior to publication to ensure that it meets our editorial standards.

Truth and Accuracy

Submit a Correction →



We are committed to truth and accuracy in all of our journalism. Read our editorial standards.

Tags:
, ,
Share
The Associated Press
The Associated Press is an independent, not-for-profit news cooperative headquartered in New York City. Their teams in over 100 countries tell the world’s stories, from breaking news to investigative reporting. They provide content and services to help engage audiences worldwide, working with companies of all types, from broadcasters to brands. Photo credit: @AP on Twitter
The Associated Press was the first private sector organization in the U.S. to operate on a national scale. Over the past 170 years, they have been first to inform the world of many of history's most important moments, from the assassination of Abraham Lincoln and the bombing of Pearl Harbor to the fall of the Shah of Iran and the death of Pope John Paul.

Today, they operate in 263 locations in more than 100 countries relaying breaking news, covering war and conflict and producing enterprise reports that tell the world's stories.
Location
New York City




Biden Pardons Anthony Fauci, Liz Cheney, Others in His Final Hours in Office
Trump Learns His Sentence in New York Case
Broadway Actress and Sitcom Star Dies at Age 87
Biden Vetoes Bipartisan Bill in Order to Block Trump from Making Additional Judicial Appointments
Chargers Become First NFL Team Since 1976 to Score Off Little-Known 'Free Kick' Rule
See more...

Advertise with The Western Journal and reach millions of highly engaged readers, while supporting our work. Advertise Today.

Conversation