The U.S. Ambassador to Serbia, Christopher Hill, has dismissed allegations linking Belgrade to a recent attack on the Ibër-Lepenc canal in northern Kosovo, emphasizing the need for a thorough investigation into the explosion that damaged vital infrastructure.
U.S. Ambassador to Serbia, Christopher Hill, has rejected claims linking the Serbian government to an explosion at the Ibër-Lepenc water supply canal in northern Kosovo. The attack, which occurred on November 29 in a Serb-majority area, severely damaged the vital canal that supplies water to several cities and Kosovo’s energy sector.
During an interview with Serbian public television RTS, Hill emphasized that the United States had “no evidence that would lead to Belgrade” in relation to the attack. Despite this, Hill stressed the importance of a thorough investigation to determine the perpetrators.
“We certainly see no evidence that would point to Belgrade, but someone did this, and it needs to be fully investigated,” Hill said. The explosion in Zubin Potok has been described as one of the most significant attacks on Kosovo’s critical infrastructure in years, with estimated damages of around €400,000.
Rising tensions
The incident has fueled already heightened tensions between Kosovo and Serbia. Kosovo’s government quickly blamed Serbia for the attack, although Belgrade has firmly denied any involvement. The Kosovo Police revealed that the explosion involved up to 20 kilograms of explosives, and several raids were conducted in the region following the attack, leading to the confiscation of weapons and military equipment.
Kosovo’s authorities consider the incident a direct threat to their national security, marking it as the most severe attack on infrastructure since the 1998-1999 war with Serbia.
FBI involvement
Hill also highlighted the U.S. Federal Bureau of Investigation’s (FBI) involvement in supporting the investigation, which he sees as vital in maintaining credibility and addressing suspicions. “This speaks to a lack of trust and a trend of mutual accusations,” Hill noted, referring to the strained relationship between the two countries.
Serbia’s oil industry under scrutiny
Hill also discussed potential sanctions against Serbia’s Oil Industry (NIS), which is under Russian ownership. Although no official warning has been issued, Hill confirmed that concerns have been raised over whether NIS might be contributing to the financing of Russia’s war in Ukraine. He assured that any decision would not negatively affect Serbia’s economy.
Serbia, a close ally of Russia, has resisted joining Western sanctions against Moscow since Russia’s invasion of Ukraine in 2022. The country’s energy sector remains heavily dependent on Russian resources, although Serbia is taking steps to diversify its gas supply.
