lkdood
12-06-2008, 07:28 PM
Sri Lankan air force pounded LTTE targets as ground troops faced stiff resistance in their effort to capture Tamil Tiger's political capital Kilinochchi, leaving more than a dozen rebels dead, the military said today.
The military has opened several fronts to mount pressure on the LTTE guerrillas as it tries to take control of the Tamil Tiger of Kilinochchi, 330 kilometres north of Colombo. Reports of fighting have increased in recent months amid government's declaration to crush the LTTE by the end of the year.
Intensified gun battles between Lankan security forces and LTTE has left more than a dozen rebels dead, with Tamil Tiger fighters putting up a stiff resistance around Kilinochchi amid bombardments by the fighter jets, officials said.
In air attacks at Kilinochchi, jets made precision air sorties at a pre-identified LTTE strong points located West of Paranthan in Kilinochchi this morning, the air force said.
"Air Force fighter jets launched three air strikes at LTTE strong points located in the west of Paranthan, a town just north of Kilinochchi, the Defence ministry said.
According to Air Force Spokesperson, Wing Commander Janaka Nanayakkara, the air raids were conducted in support of the Task Force 1 combat troops.
The Lankan army and the LTTE have regularly made claims of inflicting heavy damages to each other. However, it is difficult to verify most of the claims as mediapersons are unable to get anywhere near the battlefield.
PTI (http://www.ptinews.com/pti%5Cptisite.nsf/0/44BEE6F8F207E9F8652575170046C5E3?OpenDocument)
The military has opened several fronts to mount pressure on the LTTE guerrillas as it tries to take control of the Tamil Tiger of Kilinochchi, 330 kilometres north of Colombo. Reports of fighting have increased in recent months amid government's declaration to crush the LTTE by the end of the year.
Intensified gun battles between Lankan security forces and LTTE has left more than a dozen rebels dead, with Tamil Tiger fighters putting up a stiff resistance around Kilinochchi amid bombardments by the fighter jets, officials said.
In air attacks at Kilinochchi, jets made precision air sorties at a pre-identified LTTE strong points located West of Paranthan in Kilinochchi this morning, the air force said.
"Air Force fighter jets launched three air strikes at LTTE strong points located in the west of Paranthan, a town just north of Kilinochchi, the Defence ministry said.
According to Air Force Spokesperson, Wing Commander Janaka Nanayakkara, the air raids were conducted in support of the Task Force 1 combat troops.
The Lankan army and the LTTE have regularly made claims of inflicting heavy damages to each other. However, it is difficult to verify most of the claims as mediapersons are unable to get anywhere near the battlefield.
PTI (http://www.ptinews.com/pti%5Cptisite.nsf/0/44BEE6F8F207E9F8652575170046C5E3?OpenDocument)