Colombo: Sri Lankan Air Force jets bombed an LTTE base in rebel-controlled territory in the north as ground clashes between the militants and security forces left at least 20 Tigers dead, the Army said here today.

"Sri Lanka Air Force fighter jets pounded LTTE Sea Tiger base located at Allampili in the Mullaithivu area this morning," the Defence Ministry said in a statement.

According to air force sources, air sorties were launched by SLAF supersonic fighter jets. Pilots confirmed that the target was destroyed due to the bombardment, the ministry said in a statement. In ground clashes today, at least 13 Tiger militants were killed when troops advanced into non-liberated areas north of Uyilankulam in North-western Mannar, the ministry said.

During the confrontation, the army destroyed four LTTE bunkers in the area, it said quoting security sources. During subsequent search operations conducted in the area, troops recovered three LTTE bodies along with several arms and ammunitions, the Defence Ministry said adding troops suffered no casualties.

Meanwhile, security forces made preparations to hand over dead bodies of the LTTE to International Red Cross Committee (ICRC) officials. In another incident, security forces gunned down three militants at Palaikulli in North-western Mannar yesterday, the Army said adding two security forces sustained injuries in the incident.

Source : PTI