Sri Lankan air force sinks two LTTE boats

The Sri Lankan Air Force sank two attack craft of the Tamil Tiger rebels in air strikes on Sunday, the defence ministry said.

Updated on: Feb 16, 2009, 23:06:10 IST

Agencies | By HT Correspondent, Colombo

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The Sri Lankan Air Force sank two attack craft of the Tamil Tiger rebels in air strikes on Sunday, the defence ministry said..

"Sri Lankan Air Force MiG-27 fighter jets launched precision air strikes at identified Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam (LTTE) attack craft sinking two, while destroying another, north of the Mullaittivu lagoon at around 1 pm (0730 GMT)," the ministry said in a statement.

Air Force spokesman Wing Commander Janaka Nanayakkara said the three LTTE craft were located near the wreck of the Farah-III, a Jordanian cargo vessel which was hijacked by the LTTE Dec 23, 2006.

Government troops are on a full-scale military offensive against the LTTE, which the government said has been cornered in an area less than 200 square-km in the Mullaittivu district.

Meanwhile, the international community has expressed concern over the safety of the civilians trapped in the battle zone and urged both parties to respect international humanitarian law.

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