Indian Air Force planning more exercises

The Indian Air Force (IAF) is planning a series of exercises in the southern part of the country next year, along the lines of the path breaking exercise 'Dakshin Prahar,' conducted just last week.

According to IAF officials, the Thiruvananthapuram-based Southern Air Command is now in the process of validating concepts that were tested during ex-Dakshin Prahar. These would come in useful for the future, they said.

According to reports, IAF officials say that the southern region of the country had failed to receive the same level of focus that other parts of the country had. The situation in this part of the region is changing rapidly.In the case of the LTTE, this may involve only propeller driven aircraft.

In the case of the Sri Lankan Air Force an expanded force of MiG-27's and more capable helicopters is being backed up by an increasingly sophisticated radar and surveillance system that has dealt some debilitating blows to the LTTE.

For India all these developments are a matter of concern as it has important port facilities located in the region as well as sensitive nuclear facilities. Static facilities of strategic importance apart, the region has been experiencing a thriving guerrilla war in Sri Lanka.

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Prabhakaran injured in air attack

Acting on reliable intelligence, the Air Force carried out a successful air strike targeting the leader of the LTTE, Velupillai Prabhakaran on 26th November 2007. Intelligence sources confirmed that Velupillai Prabhakaran had sustained injuries in the air strikes carried out by four attack aircraft of the Sri Lanka Air Force on a bunker complex in Jayanthinagar, Kilinochchi around 5.25 p.m. on 26th November 2007. Intelligence had confirmed that the bunker complex was frequented by the LTTE leader, Velupillai Prabhakaran.

Attack aircraft of the Air Force carried out another air strike on the same target on 28th November 2007. The Air Force confirms that the target was successfully destroyed amidst heavy LTTE ground to air fire towards the Sri Lanka Air Force aircraft. Subsequent to the attack, the Air Force monitored movements around the target trying to clear the debris.

Though the Air Force believed that Velupillai Prabhakaran had been hit in this attack, non availability of ground information to confirm such at that time prevented the Government from releasing this information to the media.

Accidental mine explosion at Ratmalana

A mine placed outside the perimeter of the Ratmalana air port accidentally exploded this morning but caused no damaged or injuries.

Trinco Night Mail Train Attacked

LTTE exploded claymore mine targeting the Trincomalee - Colombo mail train, 1 KM away from Kantale railway station , around 8.45 p.m yesterday.According to Military spokesperson explosion had hit the engine of the train causing damages which was plying from Trincomalee to Colombo.

The night mail train usually travels with full of passengers however though the bomb explosion reverberated to more than 5 KM, no passengers were reported to be injured.
Police said the engine of the train had been damaged in the blast and no reported injuries.

Six LTTE terrorists killed in confrontations - Jaffna

Six LTTE terrorists were killed in two separate pre-emptive attacks launched by the security forces in Jaffna defences this morning, December 18, sources in Jaffna said.An LTTE bunker was destroyed killing 3 LTTE terrorists when the troops confronted with the enemy ahead of the security forces defence line at Nagarakovil in Jaffna.

Meanwhile, 3 LTTE terrorists were killed in another confrontation erupted at Muhamalai in Jaffna around 10.40 this morning, defence sources further added.