Forensic teams in Kosovo have begun excavating a site in the northern village of Kalluder, following the discovery of human remains suspected to be from the 1998-1999 Kosovo war. The site, located in the municipality of Zubin Potok, was previously unexcavated and has since been cordoned off.
Authorities have arrested two Kosovo Serbs in connection with the discovery on suspicion of war crimes against the civilian population. Ditor Haliti, a member of the forensic team, stated that initial assessments confirmed the remains were human and of forensic significance.
Kosovo's Prime Minister Albin Kurti indicated that authorities are investigating whether the remains belong to a group of 23 intellectuals who were forcibly disappeared in Mitrovica on April 19, 1999. Human rights organizations estimate that approximately 1,600 people went missing during the war and remain unaccounted for.
Interior Minister Xhelal Svecla asserted that Kosovo is committed to determining the fate of every missing person and bringing perpetrators of war crimes to justice. Svecla also accused Serbia of obstructing efforts to clarify the status of missing persons.
The conflict between Serbian forces and the rebel Kosovo Liberation Army began in 1998, escalating into a war marked by a crackdown from Serbia. The war concluded in 1999 after a 78-day NATO bombing campaign against Serbia, which ultimately led to the withdrawal of Serbian troops from Kosovo.