Navy, Air Force repulse attack on Delft island
Rafik Jalaldeen
JAFFNA: The Navy foiled a Sea Tiger attack on the Delft
islands killing 18 LTTE cadres including four leaders yesterday morning.
The Navy also destroyed four LTTE suicide boats and severely damaged
two others with the assistance of the Air Force. The Navy successfully
repulsed the attack.
Four sailors were killed and four others injured.
“The Navy observed two LTTE boats trying to infiltrate the Delft
islands. They went into action and attacked the LTTE boats which were
spying on the Navy coast guard.
“Following this, 16 sea Tiger boats including six suicide boats
attacked the Navy,” Military spokesman Brigadier Prasad Samarasinghe
said.
“The sea battle lasted for four hours from 1.30 a.m to 4.30 a.m. The
sailors foiled the attack successfully causing heavy damage to the sea
Tiger cadres,” Brigadier Samarasinghe said.
He said according to the LTTE communication intercepts more than 18
sea Tiger cadres have been killed. This included four leaders. The Navy
also destroyed four LTTE suicide boats out of the 18 and severely
damaged another two.
“We believe that the LTTE suffered heavy damage. The sailors
retaliated the attack with the assistance of the Air Force,” he added.
He said Tiger boats fleeing towards the Nachikuda and Wedithalthivu
were attacked by the Air Force. It destroyed two Tiger suicide boats.
The LTTE flotilla had come to the Delft island (42 square kilometres)
from Mannar and Pooneryn and attacked the Navy guard from the ground. |