NATO 's aerial bombing of FR Yugoslavia in 1999 , an answer to the Yugoslav campaign of ethnic cleansing in Kosovo , included targeted aerial bombing throughout Serbia , notably of targets in Belgrade , Novi Sad and Niš . In addition to military casualties , there were civilian casualties . Despite the NATO campaign appearing to violate NATO 's charter , the UNSC rebutted the case on March 24 and March 26 , 1999 . In addition to purely military targets NATO targeted the national power grid ( leaving many cities in the dark ) , water purification plants , oil refineries , fertilizer factories , and a petrochemical plant in Pancevo . The 78-day bombing campaign is assessed as having been an ' economic catastrophe ' , cutting the Yugoslav economy in half
Niš
Niš cluster bombing
Aerial bombing of cities