First large-scale operations by Serbian forces in Kosovo. One of the first massacres committed against Albanian civilians, in the village of Donji Prekaz, region Drenica.
'The Serbs' Last Stand', broadcast May 1998.
First serious action of the war began in early March when Serbian police pursued some of the Kosovo Liberation Army forces (UÇK in Albanian), resulting in the deaths of 30 Albanian civilians and 4 Serbian policemen in the village of Cirez.
Serb forces then attacked the Jashari family and their KLA followers in the village of Donji Prekaz. A firefight at the Jashari compound led to the death of more than 60 Albanians, of which 18 were women and 10 were under the age of 16. Special SAJ forces were used.
(more on SAJ and some propaganda video)
This March 5 event provoked for the first time massive condemnation from Western capitals. US Secretary of State Madeleine Albright said that "this crisis is not an internal affair of the FR of Yugoslavia". It took another year before the NATO air campaign began on 24 March 1999.
'Correspondent' by Phil Rees. Includes close combat footage filmed by Vaughan Smith of Frontline TV News