2 light aircraft belonging to the LTTE dropped bombs near Sri Lanka Navy (SLN) base premises in Trincomalee a short while ago. Contrary to pro LTTE media reports, damages caused by the air raid are minimal as the bombing was highly inaccurate and off target.
At least 2 bombs were dropped by the LTTE aircraft before they flew back towards Wanni. Although heavy anti aircraft fire was directed from the ground, the planes had flown back seemingly unharmed.
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Small attack teams of the SL Army's 59 division today brought under their control nearly a 1km stretch of land alongside the Tannimurippakulam tank. At least 8 LTTE cadres were believed to be killed in the process and SLA troopers who launched the attack have recovered two of the bodies. Tannimurippakulam is located around 10km north east of Nedunkarni, Mullaithivu.
Meanwhile 57 and 58 division units were locked in sporadic clashes with the tigers alongside the frontline south of Kilinochchi. Although SLA units are now only 11km from the de facto capital of the tigers, capture of the city could take some time and will require precise planning. In the urban areas, artillery and MBRL fire support will be limited and the same can be said for air support. The army and the LTTE will have to engage in close quarters fighting in the impending battle for Kilinochchi. One thing that can be predicted is that the casualty figures for both parties will definitely be higher during such times.
Meanwhile the Military Intelligence has warned the army of a possible LTTE counterattack similar to unceasing waves (they have already launched several medium scale ones and have had little success with them). It seems the tigers are waiting for the right time to launch the attack which could be their final hope. On the other hand, the morale of SLA troops on the frontlines is as high as ever and they are being lead by some of the best in the army.
Meanwhile the army will recruit 8000 more soldiers in the coming months as part of the latest recruitment campaign. The shortage of manpower is felt as the army moves forward daily, capturing new territory.
Soldiers of Sri Lanka Army broke through LTTE defences today morning to capture the town of Tunukkai, despite LTTE attempts to reinforce the defence lines. Tunukkai was one of the larger towns under LTTE control and was besieged by the army 57 division for days. Special Forces (SF) units operating behind enemy lines assisted the infantry formations of the 57 division in the operation. Casualty details are not available.
Meanwhile the 58 division soldiers, assisted by commando units, were able to reach the first LTTE defence line in Nachchikuda, Kilinochchi where a major sea tiger base is located. Heavy LTTE resistance is expected in the coming days as this base is strategically important to LTTE operations in southern Kilinochchi as well as sea tiger movements along the North western coast.
The Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam have asked its members who deserted the organization to surrender by the 20th of August. The announcement was made via LTTE's official radio station 'Voice of Tigers'. According to the announcement. deserters were asked to report to LTTE's political headquarters by the 20th August.
Voice of tigers radio is broadcast via Fm 98.0 from LTTE stronghold of Kilinochchi.
Latest UAV footage suggests that the Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam (LTTE) are expanding their smaller runway in Puthukuduirippu, Mullaithivu. The exact reason for this is still unknown but the situation is being closely monitored as per MI warnings.
Intelligence reports from the Wanni indicate that as much as thousand more new tiger recruits are being given combat training in hidden jungle bases in Vishwamadu. LTTE has increased it's forcible conscriptions as SLA troops inch closer to their major strongholds in Kilinochchi and Mullaithiv. Current position of one of the brigades of the army's 58 division is now just 14km north east of Kilinochchi town and 18km south of LTTE stronghold of Pooneryn.
Meanwhile SLA's 57 division is continuing their march towards Tunukkai. Small squads from the army's special forces regiment are also active in this area. Forces are facing heavy resistance as the tiger try hard to save both Tunukkai and Mallavi from falling to the SLA. These areas are heavily mined and booby trapped hence the operations are continuing at a somewhat slower pace.
In other news defence.lk has posted video footage of a rescue mission conducted by the SLAF. The video shows a gunship and a transport helicopter with reinforcements rescue a group of Special Forces soldiers who were on a LRS mission deep inside LTTE held territory in Kilinochchi district. 2 SF members were lost and one of the bodies was captured (and later retrieved via ICRC) by the LTTE. The rest of the group who valiantly held off the tigers until help arrived, were saved in the daring rescue mission. You can view/download the video from this link.
The Sri Lanka Army took control of two more LTTE controlled villages in Kilinochchci district yesterday. 58 division soldiers spearheaded by Commando units, took control of Mulankavil located 8km north of recently captured Vellankulam. And LTTE graveyard and a radio communications station in the area were also take under army control. The latest advancement by the 58 division puts further pressure on LTTE sea tiger base in Nachchikuda.
The LTTE continued to offer fierce resistance to the 57 division units marching towards Tunukkai, one of the largest towns under LTTE control. Despite resistance, troops were able to capture the village of Kalvilan located 3kms southwest of Tunukkai. Despite LTTE resistance and heavy artillery fire, operations towards Tunukkai are still continuing.
Meanwhile the official LTTE propaganda machine, Tamilnet.com posted an interesting article on the 12th August. After accusing the SLA 'Deep penetration Unit' for every single claymore explosion in the north during the last few months, Tamilnet now claims that a 'tiger penetration attack' killed 21 SLA soldiers on the Kilali frontline. The article however is cleverly worded. According to Tamilnet, "The SLA sources attributed the ambush to 'Deep Penetration Units' of the Liberation Tigers of Tamileealm (LTTE)" while never quoting any official statement from the LTTE; "The LTTE is yet to issue details on the latest episode in the Northern Front". Regardless of Tamilnet's word games, we can confirm that such a 'penetration attack' never occurred as the article claims.
The Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam (LTTE) are facing increased pressure from the army as Wanni is now surrounded by 6 SLA divisions. Of these 57, 58, 59 and 61 divisions have seen the bulk of the action and have made much progress in the past several months. Although not given much publicity, small squads from the 53 and 55 divisions of the army have been launching attacks on LTTE defenses in Muhamalai, Kilali and Nagarkovil on a daily basis, in an attempt to prevent the LTTE from launching a massive attack on Jaffna peninsula.
On yesterday (10th) dawn, units from the army's 53 division stormed the LTTE FDL in Kiali, killing at least 15 LTTE cadres and overrunning several bunkers in the process. SLA units returned to their original position after razing the captured bunkers to the ground. Military Intelligence has warned of a possible LTTE thrust upwards as the pressure on LTTE strongholds such as Mullaithiv and Kilinochchi is increased. LTTE has a 1000 strong troop concentration in Mahamalai/Nagarkovil/Kilali axis, majority of them being experienced and battled hardened cadres.
An Unammed Aerial Vehicle (UAV) belonging to the 11 UAV flight of the Sri Lanka Air Force was forced to make an emergency landing in Anuradhapura today. The UAV, after encountering a technical fault, landed in the Nuwara wewa area in Anuradhapura.
Damages caused to the UAV are yet to be assessed.
Fierce clashes erupted between the Sri Lanka army and the Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam on Friday (1st) when the tigers resisted the SLA push towards Mallavi. The tigers mounted an attack on soldiers constructing defenses on newly captured areas south of Mallavi. 21 SLA soldiers were killed and 55 were wounded in the clash. At least 20 LTTE cadres were killed and over 30 were wounded.
Some pro LTTE media reported that a Armored Personnel Carrier (APC) of the army was captured by the tigers in this battle. This claim is inaccurate but the tigers did capture a jeep transporting SLA casualties from the front line. 3 SLA soldiers on board the jeep were killed and their bodies were captured by the tigers.
Despite high LTTE resistance, SLA operations in south of Mallavi and Tunukkai are still continuing. High resistance in these areas is understandable as the fall of wither town will effectively bring the de facto capital of the LTTE, Kilinochchi, within SLA's artillery range. The LTTE has deployed fighters from their Imran Pandiyan and Charles Anthiny regiments to Mallavi and Tunukkai to face the regular infantry units of the 57 division.
Yet another 'Lt. Colonel' ranked member of the LTTE was killed by the Sri Lanka Army in a confrontation that took place north of Kiriibbanwewa today.The female fighter, identified as 'Kumawei Thangeiamma' was killed while trying to resist the advance of the army's 59 division. Another 'Lt Colonel' of LTTE's women fighter wing was killed by the army on Tuesday (29th) north of Weli-oya.
Meanwhile infantry units of the 58 division and the 2 Commando regiment crossed the borders of Kilinochchci district last evening marking another significant milestone in the Wanni operation. The 58 division units secured an area of around 5 square miles and recovered bodies of 7 LTTE cadres as they laid siege to LTTE held Vellankulam.
In another front, small groups of soldiers from the 57 division kept hunting LTTE cadres south of Tunukkai. The 57 division aims to capture the town of Tunukkai, which plays a vital role in handling supplies between sea tiger bases in the western coast and LTTE bases in Wanni.
With forces breaking through LTTE defences into Kilinochchci district, the Wanni operation enters a more decisive phase. The army has achieved much progress in the operation so far but it has not been without sacrifices. For the first six months of 2008, nearly 650 soldiers have laid their lives for the motherland. A further 4400 suffered injuries. The LTTE has suffered from much higher casualty figures during the same period. According to LTTE released figures, the number of LTTE deaths for the first 6 months of 2008 is somewhere around 1100. According to military intelligence, the figures is a lot higher. The loss of cadres has prompted the LTTE to take forcible recruitment to the extremes; in some areas of Wanni military training is mandatory for all civilians between the ages of 18-60.
