Sri Lankan Naval forces today foiled a Sea Tiger attack and sank two rebel boats killing 14 militants, whereas the advancing army moved deeper into the LTTE-held territory and captured an embankment after fierce clashes that left 66 Tamil Tigers dead in the embattled north.
"At least 80 Tiger rebels, including 14 sea Tigers, were killed as troops advanced forward to capture the remaining Tiger held areas around the 'No-Fire-Zone'," the Defence Ministry said today.
In ground operations, the Army broke into LTTE's mud embankment in Karayamulliavaikkal in Mullaitivu amid stiff resistance from the rebels, 35 of whom were found dead following the operation.
Another 31 LTTE cadres were killed during clashes at Wellamullavaikkal, the military said.Meanwhile, Sri Lankan Navy destroyed two LTTE attack boats and captured two others in seas off Wellamullavaikkal in Mullaitivu.
All 14 Sea Tigers who were on board were killed, the Navy said. The Navy destroyed one LTTE sea Tiger suicide boat and another sea vessel after the Tiger rebels attacked a "well-fortified" naval cordon in the seas off Mullaitivu this morning, the Navy said, adding it has captured another LTTE suicide boat with an attack craft.
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Two bodies of sea Tiger cadres, including a female rebel, were also recovered in the pre-dawn gun battle between the rebels and the troops.
A cluster of sea Tiger boats, two of them were laden with high explosives, along with another two sea crafts, were intercepted and attacked, the Sri Lankan Navy said.
In ground clashes yesterday infantrymen of 58 Division gained total control over the entire earth bund built by the LTTE in Karayamulliavaikkal in Mullaitivu following hours-long fighting, the Defence Ministry said.
According to defence reports, troops tactically advanced beyond the earth bund after capturing and consolidated operations now underway to further strength the defence line, the ministry said. Fierce fighting lasted for days as LTTE made their fullest strength to hold the earth bund built to resists the security forces' offensive march, military sources added.
Troops were able to inflict considerable damages to the enemy in fighting occurred last two days while capturing part of the earth bund. In subsequent search operation conducted in Karayamulliavaikkal area, troops have found 35 bodies of LTTE rebels killed in fighting along with LTTE military hardware, the Defence Ministry said.
Meanwhile, troops were able to capture an excavator, abandoned by the LTTE fighters which is believed to be used to build earth bunds. At Wellamullavaikkal, LTTE fighters suffered heavy damages during confrontations with 58 Division Troops suffered minor damages in the clashes, the Media Centre for National Centre (MCNS) said.
As many as 31 dead bodies of LTTE rebels besides military items were recovered at Wellamullavaikkal after confrontations by troops conducting search operations in the area, the MCNS said.
Meanwhile, the Sri Lankan Air Force airlifted Tamil civilians who received severe injuries in LTTE "indiscriminate firing" to the Anuradhapura base hospital last evening, the defence ministry said. Air Force spokesperson, Wing Commander Janaka Nanayakkara said 12 Tamil civilians were airlifted from Alampil to Anuradhapura base hospital for immediate medical attention.
One of the victims had succumbed to his injuries while airlifting, the Air Force spokesperson added. Meanwhile, Task Force-III conducting a search operation in Uddayarkattukulam area in Mullaittivu recovered a huge cache or arms and ammunitions yesterday, the MCNS said.