Heavy fighting off Delft

[Thursday, December 27, 2007 - 4.00 GMT]   

Eleven LTTE attack boats were destroyed including two suicide craft during a heavy sea battle erupted last morning (December 26), in seas south off Delft, naval sources said killing at least 40 LTTE cadres.

Naval task units including fast attack craft engaged decisive strikes at an LTTE boat cluster consisting 16 boats, naval sources said.

Meanwhile, defence sources said LTTE communication has gone silent since the break-off of fighting in the waters off Delft. Further information said, a dockyard built naval craft was damaged when two suicide LTTE boats exploded in the naval retaliatory attacks. The damaged boat is now been towed towards the Kankesanthurai harbour, by naval sea units security sources said.

According to latest reports, slain body of a naval officer was recovered by naval units during search operations conducted. Two naval personnel were also rescued during the salvage operations.

Eleven other naval personnel were reported missing following the confrontation, naval sources said.

Meanwhile according to army sources 15 LTTE cadres were killed in a pre-emptive strike at Pallaikuli, south of Adampan yesterday.

Security forces have destroyed six LTTE bunkers in the strategic military advance, defence sources added.

Two soldiers lost their lives during the operation, while 12 others wounded were admitted to the general hospital at Mannar, security sources said.