Kosovo finds third wartime mass grave site as officials widen search

What the report says

Kosovo authorities say they have identified a third possible wartime mass grave site as searches tied to alleged crimes from the 1998-99 Kosovo war broaden near the village of Zubin Potok. The development follows the discovery of remains at a second site earlier in the week, and excavation work was already under way in the area after officials said they believed bodies could be buried in nearby villages.

According to the report, 11 sets of remains have been recovered so far and sent for DNA analysis, though prosecutors warn that identification could take months. The Special Prosecutor’s Office said it could not share more details because the investigation is at a sensitive stage. Kosovo police have also arrested three local men on suspicion of war crimes.

The article places the search in the broader context of the Kosovo war, which left more than 10,000 people dead and more than one million displaced, mostly ethnic Albanians. Kosovan authorities say about 1,600 people remain missing from that conflict. Acting President Albulena Haxhiu and Acting Prime Minister Albin Kurti both framed the discoveries as evidence that efforts to account for missing persons and pursue accountability remain unfinished.

The ongoing excavations matter because they may help identify victims, support war-crimes investigations, and address long-running questions about the fate of those still unaccounted for. The report attributes the details to Kosovo authorities and AFP/Anadolu reporting for Al Jazeera.