On June 23, 1999, the conflict in Kosovo officially ended when Yugoslav forces agreed to withdraw following NATO airstrikes. The war had been marked by ethnic violence, with ethnic Albanians being targeted by Serbian forces. NATOs intervention, while controversial, brought an end to the violence and led to the establishment of a UN administration in Kosovo. The war had significant long-term effects on regional politics and international peacekeeping efforts. It also set the stage for the eventual independence of Kosovo in 2008.