Supersonic fighter jets of the Sri Lankan Air Force have bombed what is suspected to be "one of the hideouts of Velupillai Prabhakaran", the elusive leader of the Tamil Tiger rebels on Wednesday morning, defence sources said in Colombo.
It is not immediately known whether the rebel leader was present there at the time of the air raid.
Air Force Spokesman, Wing Commander Janaka Nanayakkara said that the jets have carried out the air strike at 6.35 am on Wednesday, targeting a well-fortified house two km north of the Iranaimadu tank in the rebel-held northern Kilinochchi district, 320 km north of Colombo.
"The pilots confirmed that the target frequented by LTTE leader Prabhakaran was destroyed during the morning air raid. We are still waiting for the details of the damage caused to the LTTE," Wing Commander Nanayakkara said.
The Defence Ministry quoting defence intelligence source said that the target was "identified as a secret LTTE hideout and was engaged on real-time information received of the presence of a key LTTE figure".
"Heavy traffic in enemy communication circuits was experienced immediately after the attack and subsequently had died out, maintaining silence over the circuits," the Defence Ministry said, citing LTTE electronic emission and radio monitoring reports.
{{/usCountry}}"Heavy traffic in enemy communication circuits was experienced immediately after the attack and subsequently had died out, maintaining silence over the circuits," the Defence Ministry said, citing LTTE electronic emission and radio monitoring reports.
{{/usCountry}}According to the defence ministry, the Air Force jets have also carried out another bombing raid targeting "an LTTE ammo and arms storage" in the rebel heartland of Mullaitivu, some 352 km northeast of capital Colombo.
There was no immediate reaction from the rebels.
Former LTTE's political wing leader S.P. Thamilselvan was killed last year during a similar air raid on an LTTE hideout in Kilinochchi.