Operation SIERRA-KILO

As a consequence of the Peace Agreement that should have concluded the failed Rambouillet talks to resolve the Kosovo conflict, on 30th January 1999 the North Atlantic Council agreed to initiate the plan for a military intervention in Kosovo.At the 26th February Cabinet meeting the Spanish Government, which had already authorised Spanish Air Force participation in Alliance air operations, authorised ground unit participation of up to 1,200 troops in the Main NATO Force (KFOR) that would participate in a ground intervention in Kosovo.

On 10th June the Security Council of the United Nations approved Resolution 1244 which authorised the deployment of a Multinational Force led by NATO.

This force has the mission of verifying compliance of the Military Technical Accord signed by the Yugoslavian Authorities and NATO, establishing a safe environment for the return of displaced people, assisting international humanitarian aid organisations, and assuring basic law and public order.

It will also verify disarmament and demilitarisation in the UCK.The Spanish army contribution to the KFOR force, within Operation "JOINT GUARDIAN", is basically within the framework of the Multinational Brigade West (MNB W) exclusively formed by Italian, Portuguese and Spanish troops.

At present the Brigade Commander and the Chief of Staff are Italian, the Vice-Chief of staff being a Spanish Colonel.

The Reconnaissance team left National Territory by air on 19th June 1999. The force was transported to Salonica (Greece) on the Navy ships "

Aragón", "Galicia", "Hernán Cortés" and "Pizarro" on the 28th of the same month.

This first force, whose relief is expected for 15th January 2000, is drawn from units coming from the Legionnaire Brigade and the Periodical Regional Logistic Support Command.

The Spanish Battalion is deployed in Istok, with detachments at company level in Istok, Rakos, Banja and Zlokucane. The Engineer Unit is deployed in Klina, while the Special Operations Unit and CIMIC Unit are in Banja. The Logistic Support Element is maintained in Skopje (Macedonia).