Kosovo Liberation Army facts for kids

The official emblem of the Kosovo Liberation Army.

The Kosovo Liberation Army (often called the KLA) was a group of Albanian fighters. They operated in Kosovo during the late 1990s. These groups aimed to protect the rights of ethnic Albanians in Kosovo. They also wanted Kosovo to become independent from Serbia.

What Was the Kosovo Liberation Army?

The Kosovo Liberation Army was a group of armed people. They were mostly ethnic Albanians from Kosovo. They fought against the Serbian government forces. Their main goal was to achieve independence for Kosovo. They also wanted to defend the Albanian population. The KLA used guerrilla warfare tactics. This means they used small, quick attacks against a larger, more traditional army.

Why Was the KLA Formed?

For many years, ethnic Albanians in Kosovo felt they were treated unfairly. Kosovo was part of Serbia at the time. The Serbian government had removed Kosovo's special self-governing status. This meant Albanians had less control over their own region. Many Albanians felt their rights were being taken away. This led to a rise in Albanian nationalism. Some people decided to form armed groups. The KLA was one of these groups. They believed fighting was the only way to gain freedom and protect their people.

The KLA and the Kosovo War

The KLA's actions grew in the mid-1990s. This led to more clashes with Serbian police and military forces. These clashes eventually escalated into the Kosovo War in 1998. The war involved intense fighting. Many people were forced to leave their homes. The KLA played a significant role in this conflict. They fought against the Serbian army and police. The war ended in 1999 after NATO (a group of countries working together for peace) intervened. After the war, the KLA was officially disbanded. Many of its members later joined the new Kosovo Protection Corps. Some also joined the police force in Kosovo.

Related pages

• Kosovo War

Images for kids

• 

  Hamez Jashari

• 

  Weapons confiscated from the KLA, July 1999

• 

  "UÇK" (KLA) graffiti in damaged Devič, medieval Serbian Orthodox monastery

See also

In Spanish: Ejército de Liberación de Kosovo para niños