March 24, 1999
Web posted at: 2:35 PM EST (1935 GMT)

WASHINGTON (CNN) -- President Clinton said NATO air strikes began Wednesday against Serbian military targets to prevent further repression in Kosovo.

"Only firmness now can prevent greater catastrophe later," Clinton said at the White House.

Clinton, who planned to address the nation at 8 p.m. EST Wednesday from the Oval Office, said the United States and its NATO allies took military action "only after extensive and repeated efforts to obtain a peaceful solution to the crisis in Kosovo."

Laying the blame for the strikes on Yugoslav President Slobodan Milosevic, Clinton said the Serb leader violated commitments he made last fall to "stop the brutal repression in Kosovo."

"Instead, his forces have intensified their attacks, burning down Kosovo Albanian villages and murdering civilians. As I speak, more Serb forces are moving into Kosovo and more people are fleeing their homes," he said. "Kosovo's crisis now is full blown, and if we do not act clearly it will get even worse."

Clinton said the military strikes have three objectives: demonstrate the seriousness of NATO's opposition to aggression and its support for peace; to deter Milosevic from escalating his attacks on civilians by imposing a price for those attacks, and if necessary, to damage Serbia's capacity to wage war in the future.

Senate Majority Leader Trent Lott issued a statement on the NATO air attack.

"Whatever our reservations about the President's actions in the Balkans," Lott said, "let no one doubt that the Congress and the American people stand united behind our men and women who are bravely heeding the call of duty there. I wish them Godspeed and promise every resource to ensure a successful completion of their mission and a safe, speedy return to their loved ones."

Reuters contributed to this report.