Sri Lankan Air Force bombards Tiger territory
May 11th, 2006
By D.B.S. Jeyaraj
After nearly five years the Sri Lankan air force has bombed areas coming under Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam (LTTE) in the Northern mainland of Wanni. The aerial bombardment on May 11th came in the wake of tiger attacks on Lankan navy ships and gun boats off the Northern coast.
Defence Affairs Spokesman and cabinet minister Minister Keheliya Rabukwella said that the Security Forces have launched limited and coordinated strikes on the identified LTTE targets to deter further attacks on the Security Forces,” .
The Minister refused to comment on how long the attacks will continue, but emphasised that a coordinated assault was made necessary by the sinking of two Navy gunboats by the sea Tigers earlier that evening.
“Operations will continue till the objective is achieved,” he said.
Two Israeli built K- firs and one Ukrainian Mig 27 aircraft engaged in the air strikes. In the first phase the three aircraft began bombardment at 5. 40 pm and continued for till 5. 55 pm. In the second phase the bombing began at 6. 25 pm and went on for twenty minutes.
The K- fir planes dropped six bombs each while the Mig dropped two during the first strike. The k-firs dropped eight each during the second strike with the Mig dropping four. The bombardment was over areas in the Kilinochchi , Vavuniya and Mullaitheevu districts.
Though the Government of Sri Lanka (GOSL) said that only selected LTTE targets were bombed reports from the Wanni said that many bombs had fallen in the jungle and watery areas.
The Air force did not target places in Kilinochchi town or Puthukkudiyiruppu where the LTTE has set up most of its political facilities and development oriented infrastructure.
The bombs fell in areas south of Kilinochchi , north of Mankulam and west of Mullaitheevu. Bombs fell in areas around Iranaimadhu tank where LTTE political adviser Anton Balasingham and spouse Adele Anne flew in and out on a sea plane from Maldives. The LTTE has reportedly constructed an air strip in the area. At least one bomb fell right in the middle of the tank sending up a gigantic spurt of water said Kilinochchi residents.
Bombs also fell in the areas around Murigandy, Vavunikkulam, Mallavi and Kokavil. Bombs also fell in the Thunukkaai area said Northern sources.
Though estimates of damage done by the bombardment is yet to be made informed Northern sources said that most of the bombs had fallen in jungle areas.
It is not known whether any tiger installations were hit or whether there were any LTTE casualties.
Two reasons for the quick and limited air attacks was fear of LTTE anti – aircraft missiles being activated and the advent of darkness. Bombin at night may not have given credibility to the GOSL claim that only selected targets were being hit through precision bombing.
Meanwhile a pro – tiger broadcasting service operating in the West announced that the LTTE anti – aircraft unit was getting its batteries and missiles ready for counter – attack when the Air Force ended its bombing spree.
The last time the Wanni was bombed by the Sri Lankan air force was on June 30th 2001. Colombo was reprimanded diplomatically by many countries for that action.
The Katunayake Air port was attacked three weeks and three days later by the LTTE on July 24th. A number of civilian and military aircraft were destroyed. There was very little criticism of the LTTE by the International community then.
Related:
- SLMM Chief on urgent trip to meet LTTE in Kilinochchi
- Indian help sought to escort ‘Pearl Cruiser’ safely to KKS
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Contact DBS Jeyaraj : djeyaraj2005@yahoo.com
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