Sri Lanka War Situation report and battlefield footage thread

[hilal]

[size=10pt]More troops to the Northern front as LTTE pounds on civilian targets[/size]
http://defencenet. blogspot. com/2008/06/more-troops-to-northern-front-as-ltte.html

The Sri Lanka Army's ongoing operation into the Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam (LTTE) heartland Wanni will be reinforced by two new divisions; the 61 division and the Task Force 2. With the inclusion of new divisions, the total number of SLA divisions taking part in the operation has risen to 7; 53, 55, 57, 58 (TF1) 59, 61 and TF2.

61 division will be commanded by Major General Athula Jayawardena while TF2 will be commanded by Brigadier Ralf Nugera. Already, two brigades of the 61 division ( 61-1 brigade and 61-2 brigade) have been deployed to the Northern front to assist the ongoing operations. SLA hopes to open new fronts in the Wanni battle through the latest deployments.

Meanwhile the LTTE has been blaming the army's 'DPU' for a series of attacks on civilians in un-cleared areas. Sri Lanka Army's Long Range Surveillance units did carry out several attacks in LTTE held territory during the past month. Special Forces units from the 3rd Special Forces regiment (3SF), Commando units from 3rd Commando Regiment as well as military intelligence corps took part in these attacks. However we have credible information that suggest that none of these attacks harmed civilians in any way. Deep battlespace operations are not easy to perform and each and every such mission has a specific, pre determined target. Being a conventional army, the SLA gains nothing by attacking civilians in deep battlespace ops (or in any other operation as a mater of fact) other than risking the lives of probably the best soldiers in its service. Usually the target of such ops is a senior LTTE cadre, intelligence wing member or a powerful regional leader.

Meanwhile the 59 division moving forward from Weli-Oya front was locked in fierce firefights and artillery duels with the LTTE fighters who are putting up formidable resistance. After the fall of Munagam base last week, LTTE's major military base in the area, the 1-4 (one-four) base, is now in 59 division's firing line. Infantry units have breached the forward defence lines in multiple locations during fighting which occurred yesterday and today. 10 SLA soldiers were KIA and a further 35 were WIA in these encounters. LTTE casualties are unknown.

[hilal]

[size=10pt]Tamil Tigers warn Sri Lanka against new offensive[/size]
http://www.reuters.com/article/featu.../idUSCOL197147

COLOMBO, June 10 (Reuters) - The Sri Lankan army will face heavy losses if it launches an offensive into rebel territory to capture the Tamil Tigers northern stronghold, a rebel leader said on Tuesday.

"Sri Lanka armed forces are losing a lot of soldiers ... many more will come if they inched into the LTTE territory," S. Puleedeven, Secretary General of the Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam's Peace Secretariat, told Reuters in an interview.

Asked about the prospect of peace talks, he said: "We have to first discuss with the facilitators. We want to know what is their thinking. The Sri Lankan government is not ready for that, that's the problem."

Fighting between Sri Lankan forces and the Tigers has intensified since early this year, after the government annulled a 6-year-old Norwegian-brokered ceasefire.

[NSK]

[quote author=Hilal link=topic=19213.msg307976#msg307976 date=1213104293]
[size=10pt]Tamil Tigers warn Sri Lanka against new offensive[/size]
http://www.reuters.com/article/featu.../idUSCOL197147

COLOMBO, June 10 (Reuters) - The Sri Lankan army will face heavy losses if it launches an offensive into rebel territory to capture the Tamil Tigers northern stronghold, a rebel leader said on Tuesday.

"Sri Lanka armed forces are losing a lot of soldiers ... many more will come if they inched into the LTTE territory," S. Puleedeven, Secretary General of the Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam's Peace Secretariat, told Reuters in an interview.

Asked about the prospect of peace talks, he said: "We have to first discuss with the facilitators. We want to know what is their thinking. The Sri Lankan government is not ready for that, that's the problem."

Fighting between Sri Lankan forces and the Tigers has intensified since early this year, after the government annulled a 6-year-old Norwegian-brokered ceasefire.
[/quote]

These are empty words from the betrayers of the Tamil populace because they know they r in grave danger of being crushed. Peace talks should never be an option if the LTTE are armed.

[NSK]

This is a great idea of a thread Hilal. Lots of pins coming yr way lol.

We can obviously put all news of military gains but the most important thing is to gauge how near to victory we are, and how far away it is from the SL defence forces. Lets add the progress there too please.

[12thman]

Good thread Hilal. Thnx for these updates.

[hilal]

Wanni operation 09th and 10th June
http://youtube.com/watch?v=ruMOyTEiXmA
From: SkyHighLanka

[hilal]

http://youtube.com/watch?v=IQXh3owBUzY

[cecamy]

Tamil Tiger rebels in Sri Lanka have attacked and destroyed a small navy outpost in the north-west, killing at least three sailors, the military says.

The rebels attacked in six boats at 0215 (2045GMT) and escaped by sea, taking guns and explosives with them, Sri Lanka's defence ministry said.

Four rebels were also killed in the clash, the Tigers said.

The navy said the attack was beaten back and that in a counter-attack its forces destroyed a rebel boat.

Wounded

"Sri Lanka navy outpost at Erukkalampiddi in the Mannar island has come under pre-dawn attack by the Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam (LTTE)," the defence ministry website reported.

"The sailors have defended their post effectively," the report said, adding that three sailors and four rebels had been killed.

Four sailors were also wounded in the clash, the website reported.

The rebels admitted that four of their fighters had been killed, but said the casualties suffered by the sailors were much higher.

Violence in Sri Lanka has intensified since January, when the government pulled out of a ceasefire agreement.

The Tigers have fought for a generation for an independent state for the Tamil minority.

At least 70,000 people have died since the civil war began in 1983.

http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/world/south_asia/7447553.stm

[hilal]

Folks please post everything related to the current Wanni Military offensive here. This thread can include articles from both SLA and LTTE as long as URL/links to sources are provided. This will help keep the Mother Lanka thread a little clean. keep comments clean,civil and to the point. Due to the sensitive nature of this topic personal insults, racism or foul language will result in the post being deleted.

[tutor]

ltte has started attacking navy posts where wanni civillians have been coming by boat. navy should do something about this, looks like ltte just turn up when all the sailors r sleeping.