Operation Eagle Eye (1999)
NATO air operation over Kosovo / From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
Operation Eagle Eye (Serbian: Operacija Orlovo oko) was the result of the NATO-Kosovo Verification Mission agreement which was signed in Belgrade on 15 October 1998, under which the Federal Republic of Yugoslavia agrees to establish an air surveillance system consisting of NATO non-combatant reconnaissance aircraft and unmanned aerial vehicles.
Operation Eagle Eye | |||||||
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Part of the Kosovo Verification Mission and Kosovo War | |||||||
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Belligerents | |||||||
FR Yugoslavia | |||||||
Commanders and leaders | |||||||
Slobodan Milošević | / Michael E. Short[2] | ||||||
Strength | |||||||
Unknown |
1,400 Ground observers cca 80 Aircraft |
When a NATO "activation order" was given and dated 30 October 1998, it marked the official launch of the high-tech verification mission.[3][4] The aim was to monitor the Federal Yugoslav government's compliance with United Nations Security Council Resolution 1199, and in particular the withdrawal of armed forces from Kosovo and compliance with the ceasefire.[5] About 80 aircraft took part in Operation Eagle Eye,[6] four of whom are German Tornado fighter planes.[6] The monitors consisted of 1,400 ground observers.[4] The Serbs did not comply with the resolutions and agreements.[7]
As a result of Yugoslav troop activities and other forms of non-compliance, the ground observers withdrew citing "an unacceptable level of risk to the peace support verification mission", which resulted in an end to aerial verification on 24 March 1999.[3]