(PTI) At least 26 Tamil Tigers and three soldiers were killed in fierce clashes as fighter jets hit LTTE targets in the rebel stronghold of Kilinochchi in Sri Lanka's embattled north, where special forces also detected an air strip being used by the guerrillas.Troops operating north of Vannivilankulama in Mullaittivu yesterday located a 500m long airstrip, believed to have been used by the LTTE for emergency landing as late as yesterday afternoon, officials said today. According to military, the airstrip was located seven kms northwest of Mankulama and about 500m west of the A-9 trunk road in general area Pankikkankulama. "It is believed the airstrip could have also been used as an open parking space or a hangar," Army sources were quoted saying.
Separately, Sri Lankan Air Force supersonic fighter jets today carried out three simultaneous raids, targeting LTTE administrative and logistic bases located in Kilinochchi area. The raids included one on an LTTE gathering point located three kms northeast of Piramanthalkulama, Kilinochchi. The fighter jets raided two key LTTE facilities with precision in north of Thiruvaiaru in Kilinochchi. "A target engaged was identified as a major foothold of LTTE's 'Charles Anthony unit' while the other was described as a hardcore female cadre training facility," Air Force sources said.
The targets were successfully acquired on real-time ground and aerial reconnaissance information received, they said.
In ground clashes, troops destroyed two LTTE bunkers in Andankulam in northeastern Welioya yesterday, the Media Centre for National Security (MCNS) said, adding one rebel was killed and six soldiers injured in the incident.