Identifier
Created
Classification
Origin
07COLOMBO592
2007-04-19 12:55:00
CONFIDENTIAL
Embassy Colombo
Cable title:
SRI LANKA: AIR FORCE HITS LTTE POSITIONS IN JAFFNA
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C O N F I D E N T I A L COLOMBO 000592
SIPDIS
SIPDIS
DEPARTMENT FOR SCA/INS
MCC FOR S GROFF, D NASSIRY, E BURKE AND F REID
E.O. 12958: DECL: 04/19/2017
TAGS: PGOV PREL PTER PHUM MOPS CE
SUBJECT: SRI LANKA: AIR FORCE HITS LTTE POSITIONS IN JAFFNA
AND ON FORWARD DEFENSE LINE
Classified By: DCM James R. Moore for reasons 1.4(b,d).
C O N F I D E N T I A L COLOMBO 000592
SIPDIS
SIPDIS
DEPARTMENT FOR SCA/INS
MCC FOR S GROFF, D NASSIRY, E BURKE AND F REID
E.O. 12958: DECL: 04/19/2017
TAGS: PGOV PREL PTER PHUM MOPS CE
SUBJECT: SRI LANKA: AIR FORCE HITS LTTE POSITIONS IN JAFFNA
AND ON FORWARD DEFENSE LINE
Classified By: DCM James R. Moore for reasons 1.4(b,d).
1. (SBU) The local wire service reported April 19 that the
Sri Lanka AIR FORCE bombed Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam
(LTTE) gun positions in Palai (in the Jaffna peninsula, near
the Forward Defense Line, or FDL) and in Mullaitivu in the
East. The Sri Lanka Monitoring Mission also reported the
raids on Mullaitivu, adding that at approximately 10:30 am
the AIR FORCE (SLAF) attacked LTTE "hideouts" in Muhamalai,
on the FDL. The SLAF spokesman, Group Captain Ajantha De
Silva, acknowledged the aerial bombings, but said no casualty
assessment was available. Perhaps anticipating concern over
aerial bombing in heavily populated areas along the FDL, De
Silva stated that the AIR FORCE engaged in precision bombing,
successfully hitting all three of their targets.
2. (C) COMMENT: Attacks along the FDL could be an early
indication of a probing attack by the military from their
positions in the Jaffna peninsula into Tiger-controlled
territory. The Army (SLA) has an estimated 40,000 to 50,000
soldiers in the Jaffna peninsula, with an unknown number
massed along the southern border of LTTE-controlled territory
in the Vanni as well. SLA deep penetration units have been
probing the southern portion of Tiger-controlled areas along
the Mannar-Vavuniya road for months. Previous bombing raids
reported in recent days to the east of the de facto LTTE
capital Kilinochchi may have been attempts to eliminate the
LTTE's nascent AIR force.
BLAKE
SIPDIS
SIPDIS
DEPARTMENT FOR SCA/INS
MCC FOR S GROFF, D NASSIRY, E BURKE AND F REID
E.O. 12958: DECL: 04/19/2017
TAGS: PGOV PREL PTER PHUM MOPS CE
SUBJECT: SRI LANKA: AIR FORCE HITS LTTE POSITIONS IN JAFFNA
AND ON FORWARD DEFENSE LINE
Classified By: DCM James R. Moore for reasons 1.4(b,d).
1. (SBU) The local wire service reported April 19 that the
Sri Lanka AIR FORCE bombed Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam
(LTTE) gun positions in Palai (in the Jaffna peninsula, near
the Forward Defense Line, or FDL) and in Mullaitivu in the
East. The Sri Lanka Monitoring Mission also reported the
raids on Mullaitivu, adding that at approximately 10:30 am
the AIR FORCE (SLAF) attacked LTTE "hideouts" in Muhamalai,
on the FDL. The SLAF spokesman, Group Captain Ajantha De
Silva, acknowledged the aerial bombings, but said no casualty
assessment was available. Perhaps anticipating concern over
aerial bombing in heavily populated areas along the FDL, De
Silva stated that the AIR FORCE engaged in precision bombing,
successfully hitting all three of their targets.
2. (C) COMMENT: Attacks along the FDL could be an early
indication of a probing attack by the military from their
positions in the Jaffna peninsula into Tiger-controlled
territory. The Army (SLA) has an estimated 40,000 to 50,000
soldiers in the Jaffna peninsula, with an unknown number
massed along the southern border of LTTE-controlled territory
in the Vanni as well. SLA deep penetration units have been
probing the southern portion of Tiger-controlled areas along
the Mannar-Vavuniya road for months. Previous bombing raids
reported in recent days to the east of the de facto LTTE
capital Kilinochchi may have been attempts to eliminate the
LTTE's nascent AIR force.
BLAKE