The first wave of NATO air strikes against Yugoslavia has been hailed as successful by the US and at the alliance headquarters in Brussels. But there is a reluctance to give details which could assist Yugoslav air defences against the next wave of attacks. There were also some signs of differences within NATO, with the Italian Prime Minister taking a more conciliatory line than his colleagues. He also supported a Russian proposal for an urgent meeting of the Contact Group in Moscow.
It was emphasised yesterday afternoon that the strikes would continue as long as was necessary to protect the Kosovar population from Serbian aggression. Last night, allied jets took part in further bombing runs over Serbia.
US Defence Secretary Mr William Cohen said yesterday that "there will be more to follow unless Mr Milosevic chooses peace. This is going to be a long effort."
That point was underlined forcefully in Brussels by NATO's supreme military commander, Gen Wesley Clark, who told a press conference that the air strikes were not over and there would be "no sanctuary" for President Milosevic and his political and military leadership.
"We are going to systematically and progressively attack, disrupt, degrade, devastate and ultimately - unless President Milosevic complies with the demands of the international community - we're going to destroy these forces and their facilities and support," said Gen Clark. "We are going to grind away at him until we accomplish the military objectives."
At the same press conference at NATO headquarters, the Secretary-General, Mr Javier Solana, said initial reports indicated that the first strikes were successful. All the NATO aircraft returned safely, he said. He said that NATO had shown "solidarity, unity and resolve in carrying out this action".
However, a crack appeared in NATO's united front as alliance warplanes embarked on a second night of air strikes against Yugoslav targets.
The Italian Prime Minister, Mr Massimo D'Alema, caused consternation within the alliance when he claimed that the first night of bombing had halted the Serbian offensive on Kosovo and called for a speedy return to diplomacy.
He also backed calls by Russian President Boris Yeltsin - who is vehemently opposed to air strikes - for the six-nation Contact Group to assemble for crisis talks in Moscow. His remarks were sharply at odds with other NATO leaders, who insisted that there be no letup in the Yugoslav offensive.
The British Prime Minister, Mr Tony Blair, who was at the EU summit with Mr D'Alema, insisted that the Italians were still fully on board with the strategy of air strikes and denied the alliance was split.
In Moscow, Russia's chief of general staff, Gen Anatoly Kvashnian, claimed two NATO aircraft had been shot down. But Gen Clark denied that any NATO aircraft were downed. He said three Yugoslav MiG aircraft had been shot down. Two had been shot down by American F-15 aircraft and one by a Dutch F-16.
Gen Clark said the NATO aircraft had not encountered many ground air defences but this may have been because the Serbs were relying on aircraft. He said that NATO was "very surprised" that the Serbs had launched aircraft during the first wave of attacks instead of their Sam missiles.
He said he had warned Yugoslavia personally not to use its navy to attack NATO warships in the Adriatic. If the Yugoslav ships leave port they will be treated as "a hostile force", he told a Yugoslav commander.
The general said 40 targets had been struck. These comprised military and security installations. He cast doubt on pictures on Yugoslav television showing casualties in hospitals suggesting they were not genuine because of the speed with which they were broadcast after the strikes began.
Mr Solana said NATO attacks would continue "until we have achieved our objectives: to halt the violence and stop further humanitarian catastrophe".
The first air strikes came in the form of cruise missiles launched from six US B-52 bombers based in Britain; four American ships, two US submarines and a British submarine in the Adriatic.
These strikes aimed at Yugoslav air defences were followed by bombing attacks from waves of aircraft from seven other NATO countries. These countries included Britain, Canada, Germany and the Netherlands according to US officials.
An American F-15 aircraft which had been taking part in the air strikes was forced to land at Sarajevo airport in Bosnia after having trouble with its hydraulics.
Much American attention has been directed at the first combat mission of the B2 stealth bombers which flew non-stop for 15 hours from their base in Missouri to drop 32 one-ton bombs at different targets and then returned while being refuelled in flight. The aircraft cost $2.1 billion each.