The Tigers, in their first combined air and ground attack have targeted the largest military installation in the Main Supply Route between Colombo and Vavunniyaa, at Saliyapura in Anuradhapura, in the early hours of Monday.

Black Tigers were still in control of the main complex at 11:00 a.m., the Tiger spokesman said, stating that the Sri Lankan military has sustained heavy losses in the attack.

Helicopters including two MI-24 gunships, one MI-17, one PT6, one Bell 212, a CTH 748, and a reconnaissance aircraft were destroyed in the attack, according to Mr. Ilanthirayan.

In addition, a Bell helicopter has crashed with its 4-member crew.

Sri Lankan military sources remained tight-lipped over the details of the destruction, but said two Russian built MI-24 air crafts had sustained damages when the Tigers dropped “two aerial shells” from their aircraft and that a Bell helicopter, had crashed in a hurried landing.

13 SLAF airmen were killed, 9 inside the base and four in the helicopter crash, and 18 wounded in the attack, according to Sri Lankan military spokesman Keheliya Rambukwela.

Mr. Rambukwela further claimed that the military has recovered 20 dead bodies of the attackers.

However, an informed military source in Vavuniyaa said the helicopter was shot down by Sri Lankan anti-aircraft fire.

The Tigers who stormed the base had an anti-aircraft position in their control during the attack, according to the source in Vavuniyaa.

Meanwhile, the Tigers have released photos of the 21-member Black Tiger attack team that included three female Black Tigers and the Air Tiger personnel who took part in the attack. The photos were taken when LTTE leader V. Pirapaharan sent the commandos on their mission, the Tigers said.

Air Tigers before leaving on their mission [Photo: LTTE]

Source: http://www.tamilnet.com