Serbian state media, particularly RTS, has recently published alarming reports about an “armed attack” by masked Albanians near the Debela Glava Army base. However, these claims remain unconfirmed by the Ministry of Defense, the Army, or any official authority, highlighting a pattern of propaganda and manipulation in service of President Aleksandar Vučić.
RTS reported that a group of masked Albanians in six jeeps fired 15 shots at Serbian Army personnel, even allegedly hitting a dog, before fleeing toward Kosovo. The Ministry of Defense, the Army, and President Vučić himself have remained silent, leaving the story unverified and open to speculation, while Kosovo Police dismissed the incident as fabricated.
This silence is telling: by letting alarming reports circulate without confirmation, pro-government media create a sense of threat and urgency, reinforcing Vučić’s narrative of a country under constant external danger, while diverting attention from pressing domestic issues, such as sanctions on the Serbian Oil Industry or internal mismanagement.
Experts, including retired officer and MP Petar Bošković, point out that the lack of official statements is illogical and dangerous, suggesting either incompetence or deliberate political maneuvering. The Ground Safety Zone, patrolled jointly by Serbian forces and KFOR, has seen only minor incidents for decades, yet RTS presents this alleged event as a major security crisis.
This is classic Serbian media propaganda: scare the public, glorify the government’s vigilance, and use unverifiable claims to strengthen Vučić’s grip on power, while critics and opposition voices are sidelined.
