Sri Lanka steps up attacks on LTTE after taking rebel headquarters
January 3rd, 2009 - 7:48 pm ICT by IANSColombo, Jan 3 (IANS) Sri Lanka pressed ahead with its air and ground assaults against the Tamil Tiger rebels Saturday, a day after seizing control of the guerrillas’ political hub Kilinochchi, defence sources said.The military sources said the troops while consolidating their newly captured positions in Kilinochchi town, lying 350 km north of here, advanced further into the rebel Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam (LTTE) stronghold.
The defence ministry said the battle for Mullaitivu has already begun and the advancing troops “have positioned themselves just five km south of Mullaitivu and three km south of LTTE’s main airstrip”.
It said that pitched battles had erupted in general area north of Kumulamunai, in the north-eastern Mullaitivu district with combined air and ground assaults on “concentrated LTTE positions and artillery launching pads”.
“Troops of the 59 Division are now surging in multiple fronts towards LTTE’s coastal garrison at Mullaitivu, reportedly killing over two dozen of LTTE terrorists and injuring similar numbers,” the defence ministry said.
It said the fighter jets “made precision air strikes at LTTE’s main sea Tiger base”, located in the coastal stretch of the Mullaitivu lagoon around 2.10 p.m. Saturday.
“Air observation images have confirmed terrorists fleeing into deeper jungles of Mullaitivu in total disarray,” the defence ministry said, adding that MI-24 gunship helicopters have undertaken close combat air support assaults at identified LTTE positions along the Paranthan-Mullaitivu road.
Sri Lankan troops Friday captured the Tamil Tiger rebels’ de facto political capital of Kilinochchi after months of fierce fighting, dealing a major blow to the rebels.
Announcing the military seizure of the rebel stronghold, President Mahinda Rajapaksa, who is also the commander-in-chief of the armed forces, said Friday the capture of Kilinochchi “is the unparalleled victory of the entire nation”.
The LTTE is yet to comment on their defeat in Kilinochchi.
The LTTE has been fighting against the Sri Lankan government for a quarter century to carve out a separate state for Tamils in the northern and eastern parts of the island.
Thousands have died since late 2005 in the escalating fight.
- LTTE garrison town captured by army: Sri Lanka (Lead) - Jan 01, 2009
- Strategic town ahead of LTTE hub captured: Sri Lanka - Jan 01, 2009
- Fall of LTTE's political hub of Kilinochchi inevitable: Sri Lanka (Second Lead) - Jan 01, 2009
- LTTE's Iranaimadhu airstrip captured: Sri Lankan military - Jan 15, 2009
- Sri Lankan troops capture LTTE airstrip in Mullaitivu - Jan 10, 2009
- 49 Tamil Tigers killed in Sri Lanka (Lead) - May 09, 2009
- LTTE 'suicide boat' recovered after fierce gun-battle: Lanka - Dec 14, 2008
- 56 Tamil Tigers, 10 soldiers killed in Sri Lanka (Second Lead) - Dec 22, 2008
- 35 killed as troops break through LTTE defence line: Sri Lanka - May 09, 2009
- Cornered LTTE's defences crumbling faster: Lankan army chief - Jan 18, 2009
- Jets pounding LTTE battlefront fortifications: Sri Lanka (Lead) - Dec 13, 2008
- President Rajapaksa visits former LTTE hub Kilinochchi (Third Lead with images) - Apr 16, 2009
- Sporadic gunfire as troops consolidate in Kilinochchi - Jan 04, 2009
- Sri Lanka steps up air raids as army-LTTE fight pitched battles - Dec 13, 2008
- 120 Tigers, 25 soldiers die in Sri Lanka - Dec 16, 2008
Tags: liberation tigers of tamil eelam, liberation tigers of tamil eelam ltte, ltte terrorists, mahinda rajapaksa, mullaitivu district, observation images, president mahinda rajapaksa, sri lankan troops, tamil tiger rebels, total disarray
