Misija je pokrenuta odmah nakon kraja sukoba na Kosovu iz perioda 1998-1999, kada je 50.000 međunarodnih mirovnih vojnika raspoređeno u tadašnju srbijansku pokrajinu u cilju sprječavanja neprijateljstava i osiguravanja bezbjedne i sigurne sredine.
The mission was launched immediately after the end of the 1998-1999 conflict in Kosovo, when 50,000 international peacekeepers were deployed to the then-Serb province to prevent new hostilities and ensure a safe and secure environment.