The Sri Lanka Army razed to ground the LTTE's 19 (one nine) Base, a strong point northeast of Giant's Tank successfully today. Troops from the 59 Division operating in Weli Oya were again targeted by a heavy barrage of artillery fire.
Shells fell close to civilian settlements at Janakapura and Kiriibbanwewa again today. A civilian injured in an artillery fire at Yaya 11 Padavi Sripura yesterday was admitted to Padaviya Hospital last afternoon.
Troops operating along the Janakapura-Adankulam road in Weli Oya today which is appropriately titled by soldiers as "Jayamawatha", managed to kill 5 Tigers in isolated incidents. Over 100 anti-personnel mines were also recovered today. The fighting continues in dense jungles.
Two STF personnel were killed in general area Dutuwewa in Kebitigollewa, Anuradhapura. The STF road picket returned fire killing two LTTE infiltrators. Infiltrations have increased in this sector in recent months as LTTE become nervous about the Army's presence in Mulaithivu Jungles.
Meanwhile the Sri Lanka Army today declared a general amnesty for soldiers who deserted their ranks after April 1st 2005 to rejoin the Army. The amnesty will last for 15 days from 2nd to 16th May 2008. Its is expected that the general enthusiasm among youth today to join the Army would encourage recent deserters to rejoin.
Thursday, May 1, 2008
Army beating on LTTE's backdoor
Subscribe to:
Post Comments (Atom)
53 comments:
Defencewire,
LTTE defences in Weli Oya sector seems to be very strong. And recent heavy barrage of artillery fire clearly indicate they have enough fire power to pin down troops in this sector. Is army/SLAF using effective counter measures to neturalize LTTE threats in this secor?
Yes there's enough counter measures. They are eying the rear to collapse the troops. The artillery fire into civilian areas is to unsettle the advance from the troops. In this sector, unlike in Mannar, there will be heavy defence-in-depth. The thick jungle doesn't help either. Army is building its own roads through the jungle, unlike in previous times when already built roads were used to advance. these routes are the closest as the bird flies to strategic points. The more the army advances, the more the logistics will come into play. LTTE will soon be expected to plant claymores/IEDs against logistical supplies.
DefenceWire,
do you think we will have problems with getting supplies to our troops in future as troops advance into ltte areas
It all depend on our ground tactics. But logistics do become a problem. We saw this in many of the large operations on yesteryear like Jayasikurui etc. This is why the Army is moving in 4,8,12 man teams like a guerrilla force with small camps established using natural cover and at grounds of tactical importance (GTIs) like Adampan, Madhu, Palampiddi etc. Now this is the best way forward as far as we see it. The enemy cannot easily route the troops since they have the tactical advantage over the terrain.
From our understanding, advancing south from Jaffna is suicide because GTIs in that area are far far away from the FDL; namely at Vettilaikerni, Elephant Pass, Pooneryn etc. LTTE's existing FDLs are NOT GTIs. You cannot control nothing by capturing them.
Too many Amnestys, as done in SL, is counterproductive.
The soldiers,knowing well that they can always re-join in a future amnesty, are tempted to desert if the military fortunes sag or if they are posted in a particularly dangerous or active unit.The result being that SLA is among the highest deserter rates in the world.
"Two STF personnel were killed in general area Dutuwewa in Kebitigollewa, Anuradhapura. The STF road picket returned fire killing two LTTE infiltrators."
If this was true, two LTTE bodies would have been recovered. There is no mention of bodies.
peter,
"If this was true, two LTTE bodies would have been recovered. There is no mention of bodies."
Yes, it was bodies of two LTTE scum and that is the most honorable mention we can do for two dead terrorists. We will not write a special obituary for terrorists.
[The Sri Lanka Army razed to ground the LTTE's 19 (one nine) Base, a strong point northeast of Giant's Tank successfully today.]
Ai Aiyaa Velu Anna...
I didn't sacrifice my life savings and my virgin as*bone to LTTE to hear this. Oh... at least instruct Tamilnut to say this is not true.
Do something now...I want my Elaam.
booo hooo...
1-8, 1-9 and 1-10 next? We may get to 1-3277 sometime soon.
Anyway, what is this with the army and back-door entrances?
The truth is incontrovertible, malice may attack it, ignorance may deride it, but in the end; there it is. - Sir Winston Churchill
DefenceWire,
Many thanks.Seems like a Good strategy.theruwan saranai to you all.
Peter - I hear Prabha likes it from the rear. We are merely obliging him.
Prabha was really Anton's ponna partner...Anton got aids and died....
"GTIs in that area are far far away from the FDL"
well pointed out DW.
actually the battle is between GTIs in the very north. Unless enemy GTIs destroyed, there is no victory.
there is no sense in claiming the no-man's land between the SLA FDL and LTTE GTIs near EP. it is like "paalu gei walang bindinawa wage"
am i wrong DW?
i was trying to convince it on 31 jan when a SLA limited operation claimed to capture the first LTTE "FDL" in maha-NK-kilali. but didn't know the term. thanks.
The LTTE FDL's in the north are well placed. They offer no overt GTI.
However, these FDL's need to be dismantled inorder to move into the Elephant Pass litmus.
The sacrifices on this front are going to be great, but a move from the north is a must as it will be near impossible to take Killonochchi from the South without FLANK attacks from the East of the A9 (ie. Mullathivu)
I agree with Sun Tzu's decsiple.
Arrest and shoot a couple of the deserters and the trend will change. Military law does allow for execution of deserters.
Amnesties have become a menace and a major part of the overall problem.
hey hey hey... guys...
Look at this(clip from SLRC news);
Wanni Operation 29th April 2008
This is the 1st time im seeing this kind of a weapon from SLA, looks like a missile or a rocket of some sort. I guess this could be a wire guided or optic-guided surface to surface missile to attack ground targets like bunkers or even tanks. Seems it has good fire power too.
Guys your comments pls.
Anyway it seems very effective and with a safe distance we can attack, coool.!!!!
DefenceWire, isnt this a new weapon? any details on this pls.
Skywalker,
I saw the clip on defence.lk.
"...with a safe distance we can attack, coool.!!!!"
Agree with you, except for the "coool" bit ;) It looks nothing but cool for the enemy. Did you hear the time delayed noise of the explosion? Awesome! Did you see the local devastation it caused? Only 7 (?) terrorists perished though, probably because that was the total roll-call at the time in that bunker.
Being no military expert, my comments would just amount to gut feelings. However I am sure the SLDF knows when and where to use this weapon. Looks mighty effective when used in appropriate conditions.
Well done SLDF!
OU&N!
Defwire,
Great blog gentlemen (I include ladies of course, just to be politically correct!). Thanks for the in depth information from which we benefit greatly.
'Been following Defnet mostly, but its popularity has attracted some unsavoury characters. One reason for this I believe is that the bloggers keep arguing with these handles and keep commenting on their stupid remarks. So these leeches keep coming back for the attention they get. I hope Defwire bloggers would use their discretion and not argue with those handles or comment on their stupidity. “Zero Response” is my motto; 0R.
Anyway, best wishes to both blogs! Above all, best wishes to the brave soldiers who relentlessly defend our nation and lay their lives so that we and our children would have a better future in ONE SRI LANKA, all 25,332 square miles of it!
OU&N!
Wow. Thanks for the video.
I can see the "brave" soldiers marching into Adampan, past the scores of LTTE bodies scattered along the path.
That missile is simply wonderful! It does magic. No arti, or motor or even MBRL can do such a thing.
LOL!
i saw that missile attack vid on defence.lk but if they claim 7 ltte died, why didn't they show the dead bodies?
Sri Lanka sets up political council for war-torn North
LINK
14 die in new Sri Lanka fighting
LINK
The missle looks superb. But the yield seems small. Looks like a wire guided munition, because the setup seemed to be a line of site attack.
The target was pretty close, which means that the launcher needs to have line of sight.
DefenceWire,
Do you write for LakbimaNews as well? Or do they just lift some ideas off this blog?
http://www.lakbimanews.lk/defence.htm
mi 24 hind
Video 1
Video 2
Video 3
Video 4
peter,
Indeed.
Or maybe he is part of DW team, or shares data.Even the language is identical.
On an unrelated note, I feel the Tigers have already weathered the worst period possible.It does not seem like the June or August deadline for wiping them out can be kept, even the Dec08 is doubtful now.For the first time I feel the Tigers are deciding the game on the field.
Fonsekas strategy of not having deadlines or not naming operations may be good for an army with extremely high morale(like say Israel ), but for the SLA it runs the risk of losing focus and fatigue setting in.
Is the Govt aware of its limitations now? I suspect so--recently GoSL has been again loudly predicting annihilation of LTTE (i.e. preparing the public )but at the same time reports of Norwegian mediation in the near future is cropping up in Sri Lankan media.
STD,
You wish!
Oncewhile,
If you are talking about the Ceasefire ,then YES.
Even a single life saved is justification enough.
Whoever’s disciple,
"For the first time I feel the Tigers are deciding the game on the field."
Sorry to heart your feelings. But you have no idea what is going to happen. Whatever the results would be SL forces will be the one who will be calling the shots. Will come back in few days to check your feelings (since I am extremely busy now).
"Sorry to heart your feelings. But you have no idea what is going to happen. Whatever the results would be SL forces will be the one who will be calling the shots. Will come back in few days to check your feelings (since I am extremely busy now)."
Take your time pal. And no need to take it personally too, its just an opinion, same as yours.Therefore you also have no idea what is going to happen, or do you?
I see very many similarities between the Jayasikuru of late 90s and the current Mannar offensive.
Objectives, tactics and even the media reports seem near identical.
Some Tamil media have even began calling the Mannar battles JS2.
The only difference in that during the initial phase, Jayasikuru 1 was far more successful.
SLA has been attempting to get to Adampan, from Thiruketheesvaram since 02 July 2007. Back in Jan this year DN reported "fall of Adampan imminent".
While Adampan is of significance, the manner in which this village was taken by the LTTE during the second phase of Unceasing Waves 3 is a good indication of relative importance.
peter,
1. the present op. is very different to jayasikuru. within 4 months (jan'08 to apr'08) more tigers have died than 1997-99 even going by MoD statistics.
2. there was no attrition war in 1997-99.
3. LTTE political wing leader NEVER called the jayasikuru op. as the "genocidal war" as opposed to now.
4. in 1997-99 LTTE had no need to steal a statue to demand a ceasefire.
5. in 1997-99 LTTE leaders didn't beg norwegians to stay.
6. in 1997-99 LTTE had their largest breeding ground - batticaloa-thoppigala; not any more
7. in 1997-99 only US and india had banned it, now 33+ including canada
8. in 1997-99 the fat pig was not death-bed-ridden, now he is.
9. had the SLA used jayasikuru tactics, they would have captured not only adampan but also kilinochchi.
10. LTTE IS PLAYING A PROPOGANDA GAME TRYING HARD TO EQUATE MANNAR OP.S TO JAYASIKURU. IF IT IS LIKE JS AS LTTE CLAIMS, IT SHOULD CELEBRATE IT SILENTLY BECAUSE JS FAILED!!!
i'm happy the SLDFs have at least partially accepted my theory. we should attack LTTE's weak points. its biggest weak point is its lack of fighters. they are so desperate that they use grandmas now.
kill the max. number of LTTE and it will collapse like a pack of cards. multiple battlefronts and attrition warfare are all part of it.
by comparing mannar op. to JS, LTTE is digging its own grave. it encourages the army to kill more than grab land.
"never disturb your enemy when he is making a mistake", why the LTTE is SO WORRIED about SLA's "mistake"????. because it is NOT a mistake!!!
Heylo there Peter,
/*
I see very many similarities between the Jayasikuru of late 90s and the current Mannar offensive.
*/
If there were any similarities, the offensive column going forward would be exposed from the front, sides, and rear for attacks by LTTE. So called 'defense in depth' worked well then. The army as one large column ventured in too far without clearing adjacent areas. The army withdrew troops from east to the north allowing Karuna a free hand to prepare and move carders mainly from the east for the unceasing waves.
There are no unceasing waves today because the LTTE cannot afford to sacrifice that many in one single front (over 3000 according to V. Balakumaran) The 'defense in depth' tactic is useless because the soldiers move in 4-8 man cells as opposed to one large column in conventional style. The forward thrust is not vulnerable for attacks from the sides as well as the rear. The Mannar front hugs the coast from the east, Vavuniya front covering western flank and Silvaturai cleared from the rear. There cannot be additional carders from the east as the son of the eastern soil and legendary warrior Colonel Karuna Amman is now in UK under immigration detention. The east is not longer a subscriber to the Eelam project. The strength of the military has quadrupled from Jayasikurui. The military is now able to cover the east while simultaneously confronting LTTE in Mannar, Vavuniya, Weli Oya and Jaffna.
The LTTE is fighting for its mere survival in Adampan. The fall of Adampan clears the way for Vidalativu and the surrounding lagoon which the transit point for supplies from TN. This base gained significance after the destruction of a large number of LTTE 'floating warehouses'. The lagoon protects the eastern landing point as the Chalai and Mullativu lagoons does in the east. The fall of Vidalativu clears the way for Poonaryn in Kilinochi.
Considering, LTTE is fighting for its mere survival in Adampan, considering they had over 30 years to consolidate and dig in, considering 5 years of CFA was a free ticket for arms stockpiling and considering the objective of the army is KILL AS MUCH LTTE as they can, don't you think its really OK it has taken this long?
Those that were in their pre-teens during the first JS operation, please read an interview with Maj. Gen. Sarath Munasinghe, published in the Island of 5 July 1998.
http://lakdiva.com/island/i980705/defence.htm#Battle%20against%20LTTE%20at%20decisive%20stage
If you have the time, try and shift through the old pages of the Island. Small team operations and war of attrition were all part and parcel of JS 1 as well.
Panhinda,
I must congratulate on the most valuable waste of time on these petharya's and letharayas by anyone.
Panhinda,
I must congratulate on the most valuable waste of time on these petharya's and letharayas by anyone.
Sri Lanka military denies report that 2,000 troops killed in 2007
LINK
43 LTTE militants, seven soldiers killed in gunbattles
LINK
LTTE unloaded three shiploads of arms in two months: Report
LINK
Explosives' seizures worry Tamil Nadu cops
LINK
Explosives' seizures worry Tamil Nadu cops
LINK
wow peter!!
I dunno how did you get this gem of an article .Mindblowing!
This article could have been written YESTERDAY if not for the changed names of military commanders and other minor changes!
Same language, same boast, same estimates of Tiger strength,Tiger casualties, Tiger areas, tactics of SLA , estimated time left for Tiger extiction etc etc
If anything ,Sarath Munasinge seems to have given more credit to Tiger strentgh than Nanayakkara gives--3000 Tigers killed vs 1300SLA (compared to ridiculous figure of 3500 Tigers vs 250SLA today).
Now Nanayakkara wants to backtrack on Fonsekas casualty figure!
ST
you may also enjoy this one about TAF
http://lakdiva.com/island/i981220/politics.htm#Prabakaran's%20bluff
The last article on the page.
More Island links can be found here:
http://lakdiva.com/island/
Some are true classics.
Hopefully, DefenceLK would have its appreciation society in 10years time.
"army beating on LTTE's back door"
Rather vulgar, I should say.
I have a comment that I would like to make for the previous thread about LTTE getting new stocks of shells.
LTTE may not have got a new stock of shells. They may have generated this lie to check the advance of the forces.
But if they have got new shells, they will fire the arti guns more often. So get those damned arti guns at least now. They should become really hot if they fire many shells, and if the army draws them into arti duals, especially at night, SLAF should be able to get those guns.
So there is a silver lining in even the darkest could.
Thank you for the link peter.
I founds Soosais Obituary here using your link; I am still exploring :)
http://lakdiva.com/island/i000102/defence.htm
Sun-tzu,
/*
I founds Soosais Obituary here using your link; I am still exploring :)
*/
Its interesting you brought up Soosai. There was clearly an attempt on his life. Poddu is suspected and I can't think of anyone else really. Soosai has't delivered anything substantial for months. Velu nana and Poddu obviously thinks Eelam is bigger than Soosai and wants a replacement. Ironically howevr, Soosai just cannot be sacked because he is popular among people. The assassination attempt fails and leaves Soosai's 5 year old child killed.
What is the bottom line here? Now you have a LTTE sea commander who is ineffective, cannot be sacked, suffering from depression after losing his son and one that would be impossible to be assasinated since he is aware of Poddu;s intentions.
There will obviously be feeble attempts by Soosai to reclaim his former glory but will fail as he cannot function knowing sworn enemy within will always got the cross hairs planted right on his forehead.
This is the state of affaris as far as your sea LTTE is concerend. Now you know this, why are you excited Soosai is still alive?
Panhinda,
"Soosai has't delivered anything substantial for months"
What did you expect him to do?? What did he not do that SLN did "for months"?? He brings in artllery and mortar shells, he brings in medicine, food and fuel, he sinks the odd Dvoras once in a while, he prevents amphibious landings by SLDF, he supplies Tigers, he even helped in the recent Muhamalai battle by sending in a gunboat in Muhamalai lagoon to shoot SLA(SLN did not take part) etc.All without aircover. For a small outfit I would call this a massive success. Of course you are welcome to believe what you want.
Sri lankan self-proclaimed "patriots" in DN/DW are so predictable that I am not surprised the likes of Peter/Shyam/Puli/Upul are toying with the likes of you to do as they wish.They actually CONTROL your responses.
Sun-tzu,
/*
What did he not do that SLN did "for months"??
*/
You obviously seemed convinced. Who remain unconvinced is Poddu it seems. So you should really pose the question to him.
Also, try to ditch the "I am an impartial observer" charade will you? Whom are you trying to kid? Its not hard to spot Tamil fakes anywhere on the internet these days.
Pathetic response.
Cant even use sarcasm with these fellows cos'they cant spot one;)
As rover said(to me), attack the message not the messenger.
Post a Comment