Rescue operation an unexpected success!

The Chronology of the Operation today...

Around 11.45pm- 12 midnight, a team of Special Forces (1SF) and another team from 2 Commando led by Colonels Athula Kodippili and Ralph Nugera breached the 12km LTTE earthbund.

The teams cleared a stretch of 3km from Puthumathalang towards Valaimadam. Heavy fighting erupted between the LTTE and the Special Forces. Large volumes of LTTE artillery and mortar fire from the NFZ started landing on the LTTE bund.

The Special Forces took the lead and went on an aggressive bunker-busting operation. Troops reported heavy casualties to the LTTE via communication sets. By the time the bund was cleared, 11 Special Forces soldiers including a Special Forces Captain had laid down their lives.

Soon afterward, thousands of civilians took to their heels and started running towards the now breached LTTE earth bund as Tigers started running in the opposite direction unable to face the SF and Commando squads. The Special Forces and Commandos temporarily halted their offensives and allowed the civilians to come.

3 Black Tigers hiding among the civilians blasted bombs strapped to their bodies killing 17 civilians. Total casualties to civilians in the 3 blasts was around 200.

At the same time, 2000 civilians escaping by boats towards Pulmoddai were picked up by the Navy. Another 5000 were rescued by a special team sent in by Brigadier Prasanna Silva of the 55 Division.

By 10pm today, rescued civilians, fed and rested at Puthumathalang, were arriving in steady numbers at welfare centers at Vavuniya. The Army was welcoming them with a hot meal and other refreshments while MIC searched for suicide bombers. One black tiger suicide bomber has been identified so far.

The Army was extremely happy with the 38,000+ civilians they rescued within the first day of the rescue mission and having breached the largest remaining LTTE earth bund today. Another large rescue of this nature could really put the 'cat amongst the pigeons', the cat in this scenario being the elite units of the Army.

During the entire operation, all high ranking officers of the Army, Navy and Air Force, the Defence Secretary and even President Rajapakse were awake and providing moral support to the frontline troops, led so fittingly by the 1st Brigade of the Special Forces, the oldest squadrons of the SF and 2 Commando, the spearhead of all 58 Division operations.

Update 1

The number of civilians who reached the SLA has risen to 38,000. The Special Operations units which launched the attack have fallen back as the flow of civilians increased unexpectedly. They will reenter the NFZ once the flow of civilians has died down.

Soon after the Special Forces and Commandos breached a 5km stretch of the 12km earth bund, Tigers took to their heels and ran towards Mullaivaikkal.

Th Special Forces and Commandos were led by Athula Kodippili and Ralph Nugera respectively. Ground sources confirmed to DefenceWire that the operation is an unprecedented success.

35,000 confirmed escaped. Thousands more follow

The much awaited hostage rescue mission which commenced around 2am today has secured the release of over 35,000 civilians as ground commanders say thousands more can be seen running towards the Army even as this report is written. The exact number of the escapees will be available only after a proper headcount.

At 2am today, 1 SF and 2 Commando Regiment breached the 12km earth bund constructed at Puthumathalang and plunged into the NFZ armed to the teeth and ready for any eventuality. As the troops moved in, Tigers did not put up any resistance. Shortly afterwards, thousands of civilians made a b-line towards the Army.

The SF and Commando operation was backed by 4 units from the 58 Division, which was the closest stationed Division to Puthumathalang. Ground sources claimed LTTE was firing at escaping civilians, some were being clubbed to death. These visuals were captured live by SLAF UAVs and shown to an audience of Ambassadors and High Commissioners live. President Rajapakse had also been there till this afternoon.

The LTTE launched 3 suicide attacks killing a number of escaping civilians this afternoon. Men, woman, children and the elderly came running with the clothes on their back braving the lagoon, marsh and LTTE automatic fire and suicide attacks.

Sources confirmed that the estimate of 35,000 civilians would swell by tomorrow as the Special Operations units hunted down Prabhakaran and clan inside the NFZ non stop. They were issued a deadline to surrender, which expires at 12 noon tomorrow. Casualties to either side is yet unclear as fierce fighting was reported until now and Tigers retreated to avoid the Special Forces and Commandos. Full-scale fighting could erupt tonight or early tomorrow.