13.7.2008

Reports released by the Media Centre for National Security (MCNS) on yesterday's (July12) military operations in the Northern battlefronts indicate that 13 terrorist were killed, 25 others injured. Also, a soldier was killed and 7 others suffered injuries during these battles.

In the Wanni theatre of battle, troops continued to pound LTTE defences on the Mannar, Vavuniya and Welioya warfronts during the course of the day.

On the Mannar front, troops operating under Task Force 1 had a series of clashes in the Puthukulama area during the daytime and claimed 16 terrorists were injured during these confrontations. One soldier suffered injuries during the same.

In the general area Sannarkulama , troops confronted with a group of terrorist around 11.30 last morning . Ground troops claimed 2 terrorists were killed and 4 others wounded during this incident while own suffered no casualties. Also, in the same area troops engaged in clearing operations removed 14 anti personnel (AP) mines and 4 booby traps.

Meanwhile, troops patrolling on the Mannar coast found a boat fitted with an out board mortar (OBM) left unattended in Ponnampiddi area last morning. Inside the boat, troops found 50 liters of Patrol and 50 liters of Diesel made ready to be transported to the terrorists.

On the Vavuniya front, troops attacked two terror bunkers located in the Palamodai area since last morning and claimed two bunkers and a 60mm mortar position were destroyed. According to the ground troops 3 terrorists were killed and 3 others were wounded in the these confrontations that lasted till the evening.

In the Navvi area, troops had three separate confrontations with the terrorist during the daytime. Ground troops claimed that 4 terrorists were killed and 5 others suffered injuries while one soldier was killed and two others suffered injuries during these clashes. Also, in the same area one soldier was injured due to an AP mine explosion during the morning hours.

Welioya battlefront remained most eventful as usual as troops moving towards Mullaittiuvu had daylong clashes with the terrorists in the Mulaithiuvu forest, North of Janakapura and Kiriibbanwewa areas. Ground troops claimed that 5 terrorists were killed and at least 15 others were injured while one soldier injured during these clashes. Also , two soldiers suffered injuries in an IED explosion occurred in the North of Janakapura area last morning.

Troops engaged in clearing operations removed 141 AP mines and 16 IEDs during day's operations.

In a separate clash reported from Kambiliyawa on last evening troops claimed a terrorist was killed. Earlier on Friday (July 11) troops found one T-56 riffle, 60 ammo, 1 radio communication set . 2 claymore bombs weighing 2.5 kg each, 3 RPG bombs, 1 hand grenade, along with other military wear during a search conducted in the same area.

Meanwhile in Jaffna Theater of battle, a soldier suffered injuries due to terrorist small arms fire in the Kilaly area last noon. Also , 2 terrorists suffered injuries in a confrontation occurred in the Nagarkovil area on the same day morning.

Limited offensives are being continued to liberate Wanni.