On March 24, 1999, NATO launched an air campaign against Yugoslavia, aiming to stop the ethnic cleansing of Albanians in Kosovo. The conflict between Serbian forces and the ethnic Albanian Kosovo Liberation Army had escalated, leading to widespread atrocities. The NATO bombing campaign was controversial, as it was conducted without UN approval, but it was seen as a necessary intervention to halt the violence. The campaign lasted for 78 days and resulted in the withdrawal of Serbian forces from Kosovo. The conflict in Kosovo continued to affect regional stability, leading to Kosovo declaring independence in 2008.