LTTE's Tora-Bora base overrun : Thoppigala

SLA infantry and armored corps engaged in the Thoppigala offensive overran LTTE's 'Tora Bora' training base today. LTTE cadres had fled the area before army troops reached base premises thus avoiding any direct confrontations. Tora-Bora was the largest LTTE training base in Eastern province. Thoppigala operation continues with troops marching towards LTTE's Beiruit camp and several other camps in Thravikulam area.

Advance of the troops has slowed down to a crawl due to the hazardous environment set by fleeing tigers. Army engineering corps are tasked with the removal of several thousand landmines and deathtraps ('Maru Wal' in Singhalese) that are placed everywhere in the rough jungle terrain. Although the military claims that it has captured 98% of Thoppigala region, DefenceNet learns that this claim is false. More fierce and more decisive battles in Thoppigala offensive are yet to be fought. However, the army definitely holds the advantage of these battles with its elite units leading the charge and most of LTTE's supply routes cut off. [Video footage of the offensive can be found here. (Source: www.defence.lk) ]

Meanwhile SLAF fighter jets flew more than 4 sorties during the day, after a long silence. Sea tigers base complex in Silawathurei, LTTE bases in Thoppigala and identified targets west of Omanthai and Vavuniya were bombed using Jet bombers in the 10th fighter squadron. Damages caused by airstrikes are unknown at the moment.

LTTE advance halted: Vavuniya

Initial wave of a fresh LTTE advance on army's forward defense lines west of Omanthai was neutralized by SLA Special Forces units yesterday. Initially, 2 LTTE cadres who were trying to infiltrate into the army controlled area (probably for artillery spotting) were shot dead by the security forces who were manning the FDLs. LTTE's main advancing body disintegrated when small groups of Special Forces units carried out a pre emptive strike to halt the advance. 13 LTTE cadres are known to have perished in battle.

Small groups of Special Forces units ventured into the 'no man's land' between army and LTTE FDLs west of Omanthai to repel the LTTE advance before it could reach the army's frontline positions.

Special Forces are now been deployed in the Vavuniya - Omanthai region where heavy fighting has taken place in the past month. SLA lost approximately 6 square kilometers of territory to LTTE when they launched a three pronged offensive few weeks earlier to recapture  areas lost to army offensives.

2 Commando Regiment approaches Beiruit camp : Thoppigala

Sri Lanka army's commando units engaged in the Thoppigala offensive braved their way through rocky terrain, land mines, death traps and rough weather to reach the boundaries of LTTE's Beiruit camp. Beiruit complex is the last LTTE stronghold in the eastern province. 2nd Commando Regiment commanded by Major Uditha Bandara, is now laying the siege to Beiruit complex. 6th, 7th and 8th Gemunu regiments have also entered the battlefield to provide fire support in what is expected to be a fierce final battle.

Offensive to capture Thoppigala started when Army's Special Forces units penetrated LTTE defense lines on February 24th. Although the offensive met almost no LTTE resistance in early days, it has now come under heavy LTTE counterattacks. LTTE offered fierce resistance when troops attempted to capture the final LTTE defense line (near Narakamulla east) on the 19th. The FDL was fortified with 6 bunkers and 3 minor camps. Even after a heavy barrage of artillery and tank fire at the FDL, LTTE had not vacated their positions. The LTTE was taken by surprise by army's next move. Nearly 50 soldiers of the Commando regiment stormed into LTTE bunkers and opened fire on defending terrorists. In a few seconds, the entire situation of the  battle changed. LTTE cadres who initially had the upper hand of the battle were now trapped inside their own bunker line. This devastating commando raid left 30 tigers dead. 3 tiger cadres had committed suicide during the battle. In contrast to heavy LTTE casualties, only 4 commando units received injuries.

Initially, a tank offensive was planned to capture remaining tiger territory. This was called off later to avoid damages as LTTE used their MBRLs to fire at incoming troops. LTTE have used 2 6-barreled MBRLs, 4 120mm Mortars and numerous 81mm mortars as heavy weapons during the offensive.

LTTE suffers casualties in sea battle

LTTE's sea going arm suffered heavy casualties when one of it's clandestine boat movements was intercepted by the Sri Lanka Navy (SLN), yesterday. SLN gunboats deployed in the northern waters detected a group of approximately 20 sea tiger boats moving towards Point Pedro from Kadaikadu.

Upon detection, Fast Attack Craft (FAC) of the Navy engaged the sea tiger boat movement. The fierce firefight which then erupted lasted for hours. In the initial battle, Navy's gunboats destroyed 3 LTTE craft completely. As soon as these boats were hit, rest of the sea tiger boats began withdrawing towards tiger controlled territory in Kadaikadu. SLAF's Mi-24 helicopter gunships attacked the fleeing tigers and SLA's artillery bases bombarded the seas off Munai (where the rebel craft were lingering for a while) using Multi Barrel Rockets and 152mm/130mm artillery guns.

A total of 5 LTTE craft were sunk and a further 9 are confirmed to be seriously damaged. One of the disabled LTTE boats in better condition is now being towed to the Point Pedro harbor by SLN. Nearly 40 LTTE cadres are believed to be killed in this 4 hour long sea battle.

LTTE plans major attack in Colombo

Military Intelligence last week revealed a major battle plan by Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam (LTTE) to cause widespread destruction in Colombo. The plan involved attacking several critical locations in Colombo simultaneously using aircraft, suicide bombers and sea tigers. Targets included the Colombo Harbor, Kolonnawa fuel storage complex and Kelanithissa thermal power plant.

A group of 53 LTTE cadres were given special training for this operation. Part of the group was divided into 5 attack teams each consisting of 5 cadres. The teams were assigned the following tasks:

Team 01 travels to Mattakkuliya from Wanni.

Team 02 travels from Arippu (Mannar) to Puttalama and then to Grandpass.

Team 03 travels to Colombo from Tincomalee by train. They are yo stay in Piliyandala awaiting further instructions.

Team 04 travels to Negombo from Mannar. They will then move to a safe house in Maligawaththa which will be prepared by a Tamil politician.

Team 05 travels to Batticaloa from Wanni. They will then travel to Colombo by train and stay in safe houses located in Dehiwala and Wellawaththa.

In addition to the above 5 attack teams, 3 more support groups were to be stationed in Mount Lavinia, Waththala, Alwis Town, Navinna and Mattakkuliya. Two more LTTE cadres were to be placed in the top floor of St Jones market to shoot down any incoming SLAF aircraft.

When LTTE attack teams launch a two pronged sea born attack on the Colombo harbor, LTTE aircraft were to bomb Kelanithissa Power plant and Kolonnawa fuel storage. LTTE teams were also instructed to destroy containers in harbor. When teams in Colombo attack the targets, LTTE artillery was to shell the Army HQ in North.

After the attack, LTTE units exit through the road near St. Antoine's church, Kochchikade. LTTE cadres who receive injuries were to be treated in a safe house in Alwis Town. Then a Tamil politician will escort the attack groups to a safe house in Navinna. After a week, they will be taken to LTTE controlled areas in Vavuniya.

Lucily for the nation, LTTE plan was busted by Military Intelligence when they captured 'Ariwamoodan' who was tasked with gathering intelligence for the operation. He also revealed that LTTE teams were to approach target locations in an Ambulance and a van used for school transport.

Difficulties in accessing Tamilnet.com ?

We've been getting a lot of emails from Srilanka based readers regarding difficulties in accessing Tamilnet.com. Tamilnet.com is a pro LTTE web site which acts as the official mouthpiece of the tigers on the web.

We are not able to determine the reason why Srilankan users are unable to access Tamilnet. But here is a workaround to access Tamilnet if you are from Srilanka.

1. Open your web browser and log into any of the following web sites.

• http://www.vtunnel.com
• http://www.btunnel.com
• http://www.ctunnel.com

2. Type http://www.tamilnet.com in the 'URL to browse' field.

3. Press the 'Begin Browsing' button and web page should load.

(A big thank goes to our friends at the FILEnetworks Blog for the support.)

Even though it is a well known fact that Tamilnet.com is a highly biased (pro LTTE) web site which has published many entirely false articles, there are people who read it. We hope this post was helpful to all such readers.

LTTE prepares for final battle in Thoppigala

Sri Lanka Army (SLA) commando units advanced from multiple fronts and overran at least four LTTE bases in the Thoppigala area last week. A multi pronged thrust from SLA commando units caused the LTTE to vacate their positions in Narakamulla area and retreat further towards the Thoppigala mountain. 2 soldiers were killed and 17 others were injured. Nearly 30 LTTE cadres were KIA and an unknown number were wounded. SLA was able to retrieve 8 LTTE bodies scattered near the newly captured FDL.

It is now learnt by military intelligence that LTTE cadres are digging new trenches around their main bases in Thoppigala. Even though the trapped LTTE cadres have pleaded with Wanni leadership for evac, they have been ordered to remain and defend Thoppigala. The main reason for evac request seems to be the lack of supplies; LTTE cadres in the area are facing a severe food shortage. LTTE lost its sea based supply route from Wanni to East when the army captured main LTTE bases in the coastal area during the Vakarai offensive. However, there is a high possibility of more fierce battles erupting in the area as LTTE builds its defenses and as army opens up new fronts in the battle for Thoppigala.

Special Forces rout advancing tigers

Military intelligence has revealed that the LTTE's main objective has now changed to capturing a Multi Barrel Rocket Launcher before Jaffna battle. MBRL rocket fire had caused severe damages to LTTE formations in Jaffna last August and it was one of the reasons the army did not lose any of the FDLs back then.

Meanwhile, it has now been confirmed that LTTE units clad in army uniform took part in Vavuniya battle. These units spoke in Sinhala and even managed to lure an army attack group into a trap. Group leader was shot dead but the soldiers managed to return to base later. The captured army Buffel too fell into a trap set by 'Sinhala speaking tigers'. When the Buffel went to battlefield to retrieve casualties, one of the disguised tigers had told the driver that there were more wounded soldiers left, in Singhalese. When the driver drove deeper into LTTE held areas as per instructions by the tigers, it was hit by an RPG and was captured by the tigers.( Special Forces of SLA later recovered the vehicle.)

A day after the main LTTE offensive was ended, army's Special Forces units staged a devastating counterattack on newly captured LTTE positions. This took the tigers by surprise and caused them to flee from most captured areas. LTTE had captured 3 SLA mortar positions (with launchers) in the battle. However, tigers had fled leaving behind the captured launchers (with no harm done to them) when SF attacked and secured the mortar positions.

Meanwhile Sri Lanka Air Force had flown 8 bombing sorties in Vavuniya area since the battle. MiG27 ground attack aircraft pounded LTTE artillery positions and newly raised LTTE defenses with greater accuracy. In fact it was the aerial raids which caused most of LTTE casualties.

It was falsely reported in pro LTTE media that nearly 7 artillery batteries were destroyed due to a ' commando style raid' by LTTE on SLA artillery base at Pompaimadu. DefenceNet learns that this claim is entirely false. The only artillery battery damaged in this battle was hit by LTTE long range fire. LTTE's ground troops never reached Pompaimadu base to carry out a commando raid. They were stopped (and later routed) near the Forward Defense Lines by soldiers of the 57th division.

Massive airstrike on Kilinochchi LTTE base complex

Bombers of the Sri Lanka Air Force (SLAF) 10th fighter squadron carried out two bombing sorties on identified LTTE targets in the Kilinochchi  district today. Each bombing raid involved 5 supersonic bombers from SLAF's jet bomber fleet. LTTE's airstrip at Iranamadu was among the targets that were hit.

Meanwhile clashes still continued near the Vavuniya FDLs where LTTE launched a major offensive to recapture territory few days ago. SLA defended the multi pronged LTTE offensive at two fronts and pulled back from one front to minimize casualties. During the last two days, SLA's ground troops advanced further from their FDLs at defended battlefronts to engage in combat with LTTE units scattered there. Some small attack groups of SLA have ventured as much as 2km into previously LTTE territory. However the LTTE still holds the Mullikulama area which they captured when 57th division pulled back from their FDL.

Colombo-Battocaloa train hit by IED

Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam detonated an Improvised Explosive Device targeting a civillian train bound to Colombo from Batticaloa. IED was attached to the rail tracks and caused damages to several cabins upon explosion. 4 civillians are injured.

Heavy aerial bombardment on LTTE positions in Vavuniya

SLAF MiG27 fighter jets pounded newly established LTTE positions in Vauniya region throughout the day. LTTE retook some 6square kms of territory which the army captured from them earlier this month, after a fierce battle. Tigers were also able to capture 1 SLA Buffel Armoured Personnel Carrier and a small amount of low-medium calibre weapons.

SLAF MiG 27 fighter jets ran no less than 5 sorties during the day targeting newly established LTTE defences. Heavy barrages of MBRL rocket fire were also directed at LTTE positions. However, damages caused by these remote attacks are yet to be verified.

SLAF UAVs could be observed in the skies over Vauniya during the day.

LTTE launches massive counterattack

Following the heavy artillery strike yesterday night, Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam (LTTE) launched a massive three pronged counter strike on army FDL positions in Vavuniya. Tigers have launched the offensive to recover the ground lost due to army offensives in the past month. Current SLA casualty count stands at 25 killed and 50 injured. Although an actual LTTE casualty figure cannot be presented, roughly 25-30 LTTE bodies could be observed scattered near the FDLs.

Advancing LTTE units have overrun one FDL position (Mullikulama) but the SLA 57th division has been able to hold off the tigers at the other two fronts. LTTE's objective of restoring their previous FDL will not meet if the other two fronts are not overrun. Capturing only one front will enable SLA to box them into conquered territory and easily rout them causing maximum damages.

Heavy fighting is still going on near the two defended FDLs and MBRL rocket fire was hitting the FDL position that was overrun.

LTTE shells hit Pampaimadu base

Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam (LTTE) fired 130mm artillery shells and 120mm mortars at the Pampaimadu army base yesterday evening killing at least 2 army personnel and wounding another 10. SLA had placed long range artillery guns in the base and one such gun too was damaged in the attack. Although the SLA retaliated with 152mm/130mm artillery and 81/120mm mortar, damaged caused to the LTTE cannot be verified as of now.

It is believed that LTTE has moved several of their long range artillery guns near the forward defense lines making several SLA bases vulnerable to frequent artillery strikes. Military intelligence had previously revealed that most of the 130mm artillery guns were smuggled into the country during 2002-2005 period under the cover of the CFA.