- Security forces inching to Pooneryn, Kilinochchi
- Female Tiger cadres removed from battlefront, replaced by Charles Anthony units
On August 1 after many reversals on the battle field, the Tigers hit back. The attack was anticipated and its ferocity took a toll on the security forces. Elite fighting units of the LTTE, the Charles Anthony and Imran Pandian Brigades launched a major counter attack against the army’s 57 Division, which was consolidating the newly captured areas south of Mallavi.
The troops were busy digging trenches and bunkers when they were confronted by waves of guerrilla fighters of the battle hardened fighting formations of the LTTE.
Two weeks back, the military monitored a heavy build up of LTTE cadres in Mallavi and Thunukkai, following the rout of a 
unit of a Charles Anthony “regiment” in Vannikulam. The Tiger cadres retreated from Vannikulam towards Mallavi and Thunukkai, two strategically important towns with a sizable civilian population.
Intelligence sources have revealed the presence of a large number of LTTE cadres in the area, especially those belonging to the LTTE’s elite infantry formations.
There are also reports that a trench encircling Mallavi has been built to delay advancing troops.
Outnumbered
On August 1 troops of the 57 Division were confronted by waves of Tiger cadres. The defence positions of the security forces, who were operating in small groups came under attack. LTTE cadres had the troops outnumbered but yet the soldiers held on and fought back, despite mounting casualties.
Tigers on several occasions succeeded in breaking through the defence lines of the security forces. As an operational strategy troops do not maintain demarcated forward defence positions. A small team of guerrillas ambushed a military vehicle, which 
was evacuating soldiers wounded in the battle.
The jeep was attacked by a Rocket Propelled Grenade, killing its driver and two soldiers.
Twenty soldiers were killed in the clash and five others were classified as missing in action. This included the three soldiers who were in the ambushed jeep. The bodies of the soldiers were taken by the LTTE and pro-Tiger websites flashed pictures of the slain soldiers and the captured military jeep. Fifty soldiers were wounded, many of them with minor injuries.
According to military sources, casualties on the LTTE side were equally high.
A senior military official said at least twenty LTTE cadres were killed and thirty others were wounded in the fierce fighting which raged throughout the day.
Again on Tuesday, the Tigers staged a major counter attack on troops stationed in Kalvilan village, two kilometers south west of Thunukkai. Several hundred LTTE cadres launched an attack on the positions of troops who were operating in small groups. Certain military sources put the number of LTTE cadres at 500. Soldiers were outnumbered, but fighting raged for most of the day.
According to reports, as the casualty numbers mounted, the army stationed two trucks fitted with multi barrel rocket launchers 
to the battle front. The rockets rained on LTTE positions which effectively halted the Tiger counter attack.
Seven soldiers were killed in the fighting and one other has been classified as missing in action.
No verified information of the casualties on the LTTE’s side is available. However, military officials said dozens of LTTE cadres were killed in the multi barrel fire.
The epicentre of the battles in the Wanni front are currently located at north of Vellankulam and south of Mallavi and Thunukkai.
Pooneryn march
Vellankulam is the northern most town of the Mannar district and was captured by the Army’s 58 Division. Troops of this division are now operating north of Vellankulam and are pushing further towards Pooneryn. According to military reports, troops are positioned 25 kilometres from Pooneryn.
The military push towards Pooneryn is likely to expose the Tiger artillery launching pads, which are located in the tip of Pooneryn point also known as the Kalmunai point. It will also assist troops in keeping a tab on sea Tiger activities at Devil’s Point which has been frequently used to launch sea Tiger boats.
Following the fall of Vidathaltivu, which functioned as a major sea Tiger base, Nachchakuda located on the north western coast has become the main hub of sea Tiger activity. However sea Tiger activities have been confined to the shallow sea between Nachchakudah and Kilali lagoon following the fall of Vidathaltivu sea Tiger base.
Last week, the navy’s Special Boat Squadron (SBS) commandos landed at the Iranativu island, which is located north west of Nachchakudah.
The 57 Division is operating in the general area south of Mallavi and Thunukkai. The Division has advanced 60 kilometres from its forward defence lines and has made spectacular gains in the Wanni front during the past three months. According to military sources, troops of the 57 Division are 24 kilometres from Kilinochchi town.
The recent reshuffling of LTTE leadership in the battle front, which saw northern front commander Theepan being assigned to the Wanni, is a pointer to the dilemma faced by Tiger leadership.
According to the latest reports, the LTTE has removed the poorly armed female guerrillas from the battle front and have been replaced by the battle hardened Charles Anthony and Imran Pandian regiments.
There are also reports that approximately seven hundred cadres of the LTTE’s elite fighting formations have been deployed in Mallavi and Thunukkai.
Mullaitivu hospital
As the Wanni front remained the thrust of military focus, fighting raged in the Welioya sector as the 59 Division made further inroads to the Tiger hinterland of Mullaitivu.
The LTTE has alleged that security forces shelled buildings housing doctors of Mullaitivu hospital, killing a child and injuring 16 civilians including the Government Agent of Mullaitivu, Imelda Sukumar. Four civilians were later transferred to the Vavuniya hospital.
The pro- guerrilla Tamilnet website reported: “Sri Lanka Army (SLA) launched an indiscriminate artillery barrage in the early hours of Friday. Official residences of Mullaiththeevu District Secretary (Government Agent) and the doctors of Mullaiththeevu hospital, located inside the hospital premises were hit in the shelling. The artillery barrage killed an 18-month-old baby and caused injuries to 16 civilians, including the GA, Imelda Sukumar, who was at her official residence and Medical Superintendent Dr. V. Shanmugarajah’s wife, hospital officials told TamilNet. Meanwhile, the Director of LTTE’s Peace Secretariat S. Puleedevan, blamed the Sri Lankan government for repeatedly violating the Geneva Conventions during its offensive”.
The government has denied the charges.
The Sri Lanka Army reported in its website: “LTTE propaganda lobbyists appear to be once again working overtime to tarnish the image of advancing troops in Mullaittivu district, as fall of Tiger strongholds is imminent in the near future. The latest ruse by the Tigers has come to the fore with the publication of a story in their mouthpieces Friday (8) morning, claiming that troops in Mullaitivu have fired artillery on Mullaittivu district hospital.’’
The Army categorically denies having fired any artillery rounds. It also wishes to remind that Tiger terrorists in the same manner used the same tactic in Vakare and Madhu when the troops were reaching Vakare and Madhu areas. Terrorists in both those instances damaged the Vakare hospital and most recently the sacred Madhu shrine, just before the troops rolled in’’.
The Army further stated that as of Friday (8), troops of the 59 Division were deployed in Nithkaykulam, about 15 kilometers south of Mullaittivu centre and have in no way directed any artillery fire towards Mullaittivu or its suburbs. Meanwhile, the Media Centre for National Security reported that 15 LTTE cadres were killed and seven others were wounded in clashes which took place north of Kiribbanwewa, Janakapura, and Andankualama areas. Three soldiers were killed in action, four others have been classified as missing in action and seven others were wounded, it added. However, despite the allegations and counter allegations and sheer lack of verified information, one thing is increasingly becoming evident; the fighting in the multiple fronts will increasingly become bitter in the coming months.
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