Novosti: air sirens go off in North Kosovo, locals set up barricades

Air raid alarm has been heard all over North Kosovo, a region controlled by Serbia but claimed by the semi-recognised Republic of Kosovo, for about an hour; local residents are blocking roads and setting up barricades, Serbia’s Novosti reports.

People in the northern part of Kosovska Mitrovica, a city de-facto separated in half between Serbs and Albanians, leave their cars in the streets to block passages. RTS, Serbia’s national TV channel, reports that barricades have been set up on the road between Zubin Potok and Ribarica, as well as the Priština — Raška highway.

Civilian Serbs have also blocked border checkpoints in Jarinje and Brnjak where pro-Albanian SWAT units are stationed.

“Kosovo’s police do not let vehicles and pedestrians pass through Jarinje. Serbia’s police have also closed checkpoints,” Novosti says.

Serbia’s president Aleksandar Vučić said in his address earlier today that the Republic of Kosovo would start “a military operation against Serbs in North Kosovo.”

Kosovo’s breakaway pro-Albanian government will not recognize documents issued by Serbia starting 1 August; vehicle owners with Serbian number plates will be forced to with RKS (Republika e Kosovës) ones.

Serbia's Defence Ministry reports they "did not enter Kosovo and Metohija as of yet."

Kosovo and Metohija is an autonomous province in southern Serbia, which became home for a significant Albanian population in the late 19th century. Following the 1998-1999 Kosovo War between FR Yugoslavia and the pro-Albanian Kosovo Liberation Army, the local Albanians set up a breakaway state named Republic of Kosovo and declared its independence in 2008. As of today, 97 out of 193 UN member states have recognized Kosovo as an independent country, including the US, the UK, and most of Western European governments. Notable countries which consider Kosovo to be part of Serbia are Russia, China, India, Greece, Spain, Romania, Slovakia and Mexico, as well as Ukraine. A total of 15 UN member states have withdrawn their recognition since 2008. The territory of Kosovo and Metohija is mostly controlled by the Republic of Kosovo, although a region called North Kosovo where Serbs are still a majority is controlled by Serbia.

The Republic of Kosovo demanded that Serbian car owners replace their number plates with Kosovan ones last year. This also resulted in local Serbs blocking the checkpoints at Jarinje and Brnjak back then. Serbia announced advance alert military status, and protests broke out in North Kosovo. Last year’s crisis resulted in the sides agreeing on a temporary solution.