The military yesterday overran the strategically important Nachchikudah - another LTTE’s major Sea Tiger base in the northwestern coast, following fierce fighting with the rebels, the Defence Ministry said.
“The LTTE which failed to secure its stronghold withdrew from the area as the security forces intensified their thrust, hours after they captured LTTE forward defences in the area,” the ministry said.
Nachchikudah lies about 1.5 kilometres to the west of the strategic A-32 Mannar-Pooneryn highway which runs parallel to the northwestern coastal belt.
A senior military official in the area said intense fighting between security forces personnel and rebels were reported from the area since October 17 and the LTTE suffered heavy casualties during these gun battles.
“We have been fighting since two weeks and the LTTE tried to prevent the military entering Nachchikuda with its maximum fire power,” the official said.
He said troops launched their onslaught on Nachchikudah from three directions and captured the strategically important LTTE positions in the area.
He said that following the fall of Nachchikudah, the troops are now heading towards Pooneryn, Tigers last stronghold in the northwestern coastal belt, from where the Tigers had several attacks on the Jaffna peninsula in the recent past.
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“The LTTE which failed to secure its stronghold withdrew from the area as the security forces intensified their thrust, hours after they captured LTTE forward defences in the area,” the ministry said.
Nachchikudah lies about 1.5 kilometres to the west of the strategic A-32 Mannar-Pooneryn highway which runs parallel to the northwestern coastal belt.
A senior military official in the area said intense fighting between security forces personnel and rebels were reported from the area since October 17 and the LTTE suffered heavy casualties during these gun battles.
“We have been fighting since two weeks and the LTTE tried to prevent the military entering Nachchikuda with its maximum fire power,” the official said.
He said troops launched their onslaught on Nachchikudah from three directions and captured the strategically important LTTE positions in the area.
He said that following the fall of Nachchikudah, the troops are now heading towards Pooneryn, Tigers last stronghold in the northwestern coastal belt, from where the Tigers had several attacks on the Jaffna peninsula in the recent past.
Source
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