Nineteen Sri Lankan soldiers and nine Tamil rebels were killed as LTTE launched fierce counter attacks in some of the newly captured areas of government troops in northern Jaffna peninsula, the army said on Thursday.
An LTTE statement from London last night said heavy fighting continued yesterday in Muhumalai-Killali sectors of the peninsula in which 150 soldiers and nine LTTE rebels were killed and over 500 security forces personnel were injured.
Reacting to LTTE claims, army spokesman brig. Sanath Karunaratne told PTI on Thursday that 19 soliders were killed and 40 wounded in the fighting since Wednesday.
Asserting that the LTTE was making 'tall claims' about capturing new areas and inflicting heavy casualties on the army in order to 'cover up' its recent territorial losses in Jaffna, he said adding the rebels were attempting to counter attack in the Killali sector, which was captured by the troops few days ago.
He said that troops made tactical re-adjustment of the bunker lines in that sector to consolidate their defences. “However there are no significant gains for the LTTE there,” he said.
The army on Wednesday said 73 LTTE rebels and 23 troops were killed in heavy fighting on Tuesday. Bureau Report