The first day of the bombing - The NATO aggression begins

On 24 March 1999 at 19:45, NATO began the bombing of the Federal Republic of Yugoslavia without the approval of the UN Security Council. This was the first day of Operation "Merciful Angel" (Operation Allied Force).

The first attacks

The first target was the Batajnica military airfield near Belgrade. In the first wave of attacks, military facilities in Belgrade, Novi Sad, Podgorica, Priština and Niš were struck. Tomahawk cruise missiles and aerial bombs were used.

Justification for the attacks

NATO claimed that it was bombing because of the "humanitarian crisis" in Kosovo, although it had no UN mandate. UN Secretary-General Kofi Annan stated that the bombing was "legitimate but not legal".

Declaration of a state of emergency

The President of the FRY, Slobodan Milošević, declared a state of emergency. Across the country, air-raid sirens sounded.

The first civilian casualties

According to the first reports, there were 5-10 civilian casualties on the first day, mainly from secondary explosions and falling shrapnel.