Aerial Attacks by the SLAF on LTTE targets, 2008

May 10: The Sri Lanka Air Force fighter jets neutralised an LTTE artillery gun position north of Nedunkerni in the Mullaitivu district.

May 6: The troops captured the Palampiddi Bridge in the LTTE-held area of Palampiddi in the Vavuniya district following a fierce gun-battle. Providing support to the ground troops, the Sri Lanka Air Force fighter jets bombed an LTTE target located one-km north of Palampiddi junction in the same area.

May 5: Two Sri Lankan Air Force MI-24 fighter crafts carried out two attacks on an LTTE concentration position in the area west of Palampiddi in Mannar. Pilots confirmed that both attacks were successful.

May 4: The Sri Lanka Air Force fighter crafts neutralised an LTTE position about 5-km west of Puthukudirippu in the Mullaitivu district.

April 28: The Sri Lanka Air Force fighter crafts neutralised an LTTE building complex, adjacent to the Iranamadu air strip of the outfit.

Aril 25: The Sri Lanka Air Force fighter jets neutralised a key LTTE base located in the Iranamadu jungle of Kilinochchi district. "The base is located inside the jungle patch, southeast of the LTTE’s runway in Iranamadu. The fighter pilots have confirmed accurate bombing and considerable damage to the terror base," the sources added.

April 24: The Sri Lanka Air Force fighter jets neutralized a Black Tiger (LTTE suicide squad) training base northwest of Mankulam junction in the Mullaitivu district.

April 23: Following the fighting in the morning, the SLAF jets shelled two LTTE artillery bases, about 10-12-km ahead of the Muhamalai FDL at around 1:30pm. 15 minutes later, the SLAF conducted another aerial raid on an identified LTTE camp at Muhamalai. Further, MI 24 fighter helicopters of the SLAF neutralised several LTTE bunkers at the outfit’s second defence line in Muhamalai.

April 21: Three heavily armed Sea Tiger boats were bombed and destroyed by the SLAF fighter planes in the seas off Alampil, about 10-kms south of Mullaitivu centre. Daily News quoted Air Force Wing Commander Andrew Wijesuriya as saying, "The Air Force fighters reached the Alampil beach before two sea Tiger boats touched the shore and bombarded the LTTE boats when they were stranded on the beach", adding the SLAF jets also observed from the air surveillance another heavily armed Sea Tiger boat in the Alampil sea and destroyed it. "Pilots confirmed that a huge explosion had been seen from three LTTE boats which caused heavy damages to the sea Tigers", he further stated.

April 20: MI 24 fighter helicopters of the SLAF neutralised an LTTE mortar location and one of the outfit’s forward command posts in the area east of Adampan in the Mannar district. 12 militants were killed and an equal number of them were wounded in the attack.

The SLAF fighter crafts bombed three Sea Tiger boats with fitted machine guns in the seas south of Mullaitivu lagoon. The SLAF Wing Commander Andy Wijesuriya said: "The supersonic fighter jets bombed and destroyed three arms boats of the Sea Tigers beached south of Mullaitivu lagoon Saturday around 5.40 p.m." However, the LTTE in a statement claimed that the air raid by the SLAF destroyed "fishing boats and newly built tsunami houses". "Sri Lankan Air Force bombers dropped bombs in the Silavaththai area in Mullaitivu, injuring two civilians, destroying newly built tsunami homes and causing other damage," the LTTE statement said.

April 17: The Sri Lanka Air Force Kfir jets neutralised an LTTE logistics base at Parayanakulam, about 15-km northwest of Puthukudirippu in the Mullaitivu district.

April 16: The SLAF jets neutralised an LTTE bunker line and a mortar position near the Muhamalai FDL of Jaffna district.

April 15: The Sri Lanka air force fighter jets neutralised an LTTE communication station south of Mankulam in the Mullaitivu district.

The SLAF fighter jets neutralised an LTTE base in the jungle area of Mudiyankattukulam, about 8-km northwest of Oddusudan junction, in the Mullaitivu district. The base is a key logistic complex and an engineering yard of the LTTE which has been used for heavy engineering and construction work by the outfit. The base reportedly contained a large vehicle yard and several hardware stores, from where the outfit allocates resources for heavy construction work particularly those done for the safety of its leaders such as construction of fortified bunkers and tunnels.

April 10: The SLAF fighter craft neutralised a Sea Tiger base at Chemmalai in the Alampil area of Mullaitivu district.

April 7: The Sri Lanka Air Force fighter crafts bombed and neutralized an LTTE Black Tiger (suicide cadre) training centre, northwest of Mankulam in the Mullaitivu district. Similarly, the fighter crafts neutralised an LTTE bunker line south of Muhamalai in the Jaffna district.

April 4: The SLAF fighter craft bombed and neutralised an LTTE training base at Pullopalai, southeast of Muhamalai. It was reportedly one of the outfit's major training bases for the Muhamalai attacks against the SFs. The SLAF MI-24 fighter jets also shelled and neutralised one LTTE mortar position in the Andankulam area of Mannar district.

April 2: The SLAF fighter jets bombed a secret rendezvous of the LTTE leaders in the area west of Vishvamadu area of Mullaitivu district, the SLAF Wing Commander Andrew Wijesuriya said. "The target was frequented by senior LTTE cadres and the pilot confirmed the target was destroyed," he said.

April 1: The SLAF jets bombed and neutralized an LTTE base camp at Pyramidal in the Mullaitivu district.

March 31: The Sri Lanka Air Force fighter jets bombed the illegal LTTE airstrip at Iranamadu, about 10-km west of Mullaitivu and caused extensive damages to the airstrip.

March 30: The Sri Lanka Air Force fighter carried out an aerial attack and neutralised a Sea Tiger base at Chilawatta in the Alampil area of Mullaitivu district.

March 27: The SLAF fighter jets neutralised an LTTE training camp and a Sea Tiger command post in two separate air raids, the SLAF Wing Commander Andrew Wijesuriya said, according to Daily News. The SLAF fighter jets bombed the training camp at Kalmadukulam in the North East of Iranamadu jungle of Kilinochchi district. "According to intelligence, the newly recruited LTTE cadres had been receiving training at this location," Wijesuriya said. The fighter jets also shelled a Sea Tiger Command base and a radar system in the North Eastern coast of Wallaipadu and South of Devil-point. "LTTE cadres used the location to coordinate and execute sea Tiger activities in the area," Wijesuriya stated.

March 26: The SLAF fighter jets bombed two LTTE positions, north of Yodha Weva (Giant Tank) in the Kaliaddanchan area of Mannar district. Pilots said sorties neutralised the targets.

The SLAF also targeted an LTTE boat manufacturing yard, which produces Sea Tiger boats, in the Vishwamadukulam area of Mullaitivu district. Pilots said neutralised the targets.

March 25: Air Force Wing Commander Andrew Wijesuriya reiterated that intelligence sources confirmed three LTTE militants were killed and eight others injured in an air raid carried out by the SLAF at the Sea Tiger Coordinating Centre located in the Puthukudirippu area of Mullaitivu district on March 22.

The Sri Lanka Air Force fighter jets neutralised an LTTE arsenal and equipment storage in the Udayankattu area, west of Mullaitivu.

March 22: The SLAF fighter jets bombed and neutralised an identified Sea Tiger base, about 7-km north of Nayaru lagoon in the Mullaitivu district.

Elsewhere, the SLAF fighter craft shelled and destroyed an LTTE base northwest of Puthukudirippu. Intelligence reports revealed the target was a coordinating centre of the Sea Tigers.

March 15: The SLAF fighter jets neutralized an LTTE training base in the jungle area northeast of Vishvamadu in the Iranamadu region of Kilinochchi district. A statement by the SLAF said, "The enemy target had been under constant surveillance and latest air reconnaissance information has revealed intensified terrorist activity in the area. The LTTE training facility was left in rubble as pilots returned following the precision air sortie at around 6.10 a.m. The LTTE is yet to reveal casualty figures."

March 12: The Sri Lanka Air Force fighter crafts bombed three LTTE camps, from where the militants were directing heavy fire on to the advancing troops, in the area north and east of Madhu in the Mannar district.

March 8: Ten LTTE militants were killed and several others injured during a gun-battle with the troops in the Manthai area of Mannar district. Two soldiers were also killed and four others got injured in the incident. The SLAF also participated in the operation.

March 4: Super Sonic jets of the Sri Lanka Air Force bombed the Kalmunai point in Pooneryn in the Jaffna district and its surrounding LTTE hideouts, from where militants used to direct artillery and mortar fire.

March 3: Fighter craft of the Sri Lankan Air Force bombed an LTTE transmission center at Kulamirippu, about six km northwest of Oddusuddan junction in the Mullaithivu district. According to Air Force sources, the transmission centre with its tower was destroyed in the attack.

February 28: The SLAF fighter jets bombed and neutralized an LTTE artillery command centre and an underground bunker at Karampaikkulam, three kilometres southeast of Palali, in the Jaffna district.

February 24: The Sri Lanka Air Force (SLAF) fighter jets carried out an air strike targeting a LTTE base five-kilometres north of Giant Tank in the Parappakandattan area of Mannar district. "This is believed to be the base of the Mannar area LTTE leader. We are yet to receive confirmation about the damages caused to the LTTE base in the air strike," military spokesman Brigadier Udaya Nanayakkara said.

February 23: The SLAF fighter jets bombed and neutralised an LTTE military base, 11-kms north east of Oddusudan, in the Mullaitivu district.

February 22: The SLAF fighter jets bombed an inland Sea Tiger base in the Kiranchi area of Kilinochchi district, the SLAF spokesman Wing Commander Andrew Wijesuriya said. "The target was precisely taken by pilots based on information from ground intelligence sources and air surveillance," he said, adding, "The LTTE was using the inland Sea Tiger base to plan and carry out their activities against the Security Forces." Meanwhile, the LTTE alleged that eight civilians, including three pre-school children, were killed and 10 others were injured, four of them critically, when the SLAF bombed a coastal civilian settlement in the Kiranchi area in Poonahari in the Kilinochchi district. However, the SLAF said it bombed "carefully identified" LTTE targets.

February 16: The Sri Lanka Air Force fighter jets pounded a LTTE operation coordinating centre in Mannar, the Media Centre for National Security (MSNS) said. The identified target located in the jungle was a threat to the current Army operations in Vavuniya and Mannar districts, MCNS added. According to Air Force sources, the target was completely destroyed.

February 15: The SLAF fighter jets carried out aerial raids targeting a Sea Tiger [Sea Wing of LTTE] training centre and the forward operations centre in the Nayaru area of Mullaitivu district, said SLAF spokesman Wing Commander Andi Wijesuriya. The LTTE used this base to launch attacks on troops in the Weli Oya sector, sources said. "Apart from this the LTTE has also used this place as one of their Sea Tiger Training centres," the spokesman added. The SLAF fighter jets have carried out 19 air raids so far in 2008 using Kfir and MiG fighter jets, the spokesman added. Intelligence sources also confirmed that more than 50 LTTE militants, including some leaders, have been killed during these air raids.

February 14: The Sri Lanka Air Force fighter craft carried out an aerial attack on LTTE’s ‘Radha’ military base at Puravilkulam, northeast of Vishwamadukulam, in the Mullaitivu district and destroyed it completely.

February 6: The SLAF fighter jets carried out an attack on a secret hide-out of LTTE top leaders at Thiruwei Aru, about 1-km northwest of Iranamadu in the Kilinochchi district. "The gathering place was frequented by Tiger leaders to plan and discuss attacks to be carried out against the Security Forces," said the SLAF spokesman Wing Commander Andrew Wijesuriya.

February 5: The SLAF fighting craft bombed a LTTE "Administrative and Operations Coordinating Centre" in the area west of Puthukudirippu at Keevelikulam in the Mullaitivu district. The centre was used by the LTTE to give instructions on various administrative and operational matters.

The SLAF neutralised the LTTE "Area Commanders Office and Communication Base" in the area south of Karadiyabokku junction in the Kilinochchi district.

January 31: The Sri Lanka Air Force fighter jets carried out raids targeting LTTE’s ‘Black Tiger Indoctrinating Centre’ in the dense Keevelikulam jungles, about 4-km northwest of Puthukudirippu in the Mullaitivu district. Air Force pilots confirmed the considerable damage to the target which was used by the outfit to indoctrinate their cadres.

January 30: The SLAF Wing Commander Andrew Wijesuriya said the SLAF fighter jets pounded the LTTE Field Headquarters located 2-kms away from south of Muhamalai FDLs around 8.20am. "The target was accurate and precise and the air raid was carried out following ground intelligence sources and air base surveillance. The pilots confirmed the target was hit and destroyed completely", he added.

January 28: Military spokesman Brigadier Udaya Nanayakkara said that the SALF carried out an air strike targeting an LTTE artillery position in the Kalmunai point at around 11.45am. "LTTE cadres were launching the artillery attack directed towards the Palali from this position. The Tiger artillery position was completely destroyed by the Air Force fighters," he stated.

January 26: SLAF fighter jets bombed a Sea Tiger (sea wing of the LTTE) base at Kaivelikulam, northwest of Puthukkudiyiruppu in the Mullaitivu district. Air Force spokesman Wing Commander Andrew Wijesuriya said fighter jets targeted a covert meeting of the Sea Tiger leaders.

January 25: The SLAF fighter jets are reported to have conducted a successful aerial raid on a major LTTE hideout identified as "LTTE Transport Base", located two kilometres southwest of Depot Junction in the Selvanagar area of Kilinochchi district.

January 23: SLAF fighter jets bombed a frequent visiting place of the LTTE chief Velupillai Prabhakaran in Kilinochchi, known as "X-ray Base". The SLAF jets in a low flying mission targeted the base located east of Iranamadu Tank in the Kalmadukulama area, the Defense Ministry said. SLAF spokesperson Wing Commander Andrew Wijesooriya said, "We believed he (Prabha) was in the base and no confirmation on his condition or whereabouts after the raid." The target was located in a thick jungle patch, north of LTTE’s "runaway" in Iranamadu. The area has been long demarcated as a "high security zone" and a ‘no go’ area for civilians.

January 17: The SLAF fighter craft conducted an air sortie on a leading hideout of senior LTTE militants in the Jayapuram area of Kilinochchi district.

January 16: The SLAF fighter craft bombed a complex at Uddasar in the Mullaitivu district, where LTTE munitions are manufactured and stored and destroyed it completely. "Large explosions as well as thick palls of smoke covered the skies as munitions started exploding giving thundering sounds," military sources stated.

January 14: SLAF fighter jets bombed an LTTE artillery gun position east of Vedithalthivu in the Mannar district. One 122-mm heavy calibre cannon belonging to the LTTE artillery was damaged in the attack and a key LTTE militant behind artillery coordinating in the Wanni area, named Mangalesh, was reportedly injured.

The SLAF successfully conducted aerial bombing on a heavily fortified LTTE intelligence and military base situated at Kombavilkulam, north of Puthukudirippu, in the Kilinochchi district.

January 10: SLAF fighter crafts completely destroyed a Sea Tiger (sea wing of the LTTE) base at Alampil in the Nayaru area of Mannar district.

January 2: The SLAF jets bombed a Sea-Tiger (sea wing of the LTTE) camp and a co-ordinating centre of their intelligence wing cadres in the east of Vedithalthivu in Mannar district.

The SLAF conducted an aerial strike on an LTTE logistics base in Alampil, north of Kokkuthuduvai.