The Merdare entry point is Kosovo's most important border crossing while two smaller crossings on the Serbian border in the north are also closed since Dec. 10 as relations between the two countries stay tense.
"Serbia, influenced by Russia, has raised a state of military readiness... to protect criminal groups that terrorise... citizens of Serb ethnicity living in Kosovo," says Kosovar Interior Minister Xhelal Svecla.
Kosovo broke from Serbia in 1999 and declared independence in 2008. But Serbia has not recognised the move and sees its former province as part of its territory.
Serbian authorities have urged residents to stay indoors until the air clears.
Major General Angelo Michele Ristuccia, leader of NATO's KFOR peacekeepers, says his troops are in a position to control the situation and warns all sides to "refrain from provocative shows of force."
NATO Secretary-General Jens Stoltenberg says the bloc-led mission in Kosovo "remains vigilant".
Kosovo PM Albin Kurti says "we will respond to aggression with all the strength we have" after Serbian leader Aleksandar Vucic says he will ask NATO to deploy Serbian forces in Kosovo's volatile north.
Teams, players make political statements as rivalry between Kosovo and Serbia spills into the field, dressing room.
In anticipation of the effects of the Russia-Ukraine conflict on Europe, the European Union is holding a one-day summit in Tirana, Albania, with leaders from Albania, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Kosovo, Montenegro, North Macedonia and Serbia.
Switzerland beat Serbia in an incident-packed match to set up a last-16 meeting with Cristiano Ronaldo's Portugal.
Serbia's football team hung up a flag depicting Kosovo's borders with the Serbian flags' colours and stamped with the slogan "there will be no surrender".
Second-half brace by Richarlison, including a stunning overhead scissor kick, gives tournament favourites Brazil a great start in their World Cup bid at Qatar's Lusail Stadium.
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