Colombo: Backed by helicopter gunships, Sri Lankan Navy today attacked a flotilla of rebel boats, killing at least six sea Tigers and destroying two LTTE vessels.

In the pre-dawn raid, the Navy s elite Special Boat Squadron (SBS) confronted seven sea Tiger boats East of Nayaru, near Mullaittivu, inflicting heavy damage on the LTTE, officials said.

Two of the rebel vessels were completely destroyed and at least six sea Tigers killed in the naval attack, they said. A sea Tiger command boat was also damaged in the incident.

The LTTE boats were moving off Navaru when the SBS personnel targeted them with heavy fire, the Navy said.

"Four enemy boats, which were attempting to flee amidst the naval onslaught, were engaged by the Sri Lanka Air Force (SLAF) helicopter gunships, which backed the SBS confrontation cutting off the enemy's fleeing attempt," the Navy said.

It said several LTTE cadres were also injured in the confrontation, apart from over six killed. The Navy suffered no casualties and none of its vessels was damaged.

During the operation, the fighter jets launched precision strikes at two LTTE boats at the Nayaru lagoon.

According to Air Force spokesperson Wing Commander Janaka Nanayakkara, the raids were aimed at targeting a group of LTTE cadres, who fled a sea battle with the Navy.

In a separate incident, MI-24 helicopters of Sri Lankan Air Force pounded an LTTE gathering point 10 kms northeast of Akkarayankulam in Kilinochchi this morning. The Air Force said the target was accurately engaged.
Source : PTI