Eighty-two Tamil Tigers were killed by security forces in Sri Lanka's north, including 51 who died in an army raid on a key Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam base, as fighter jets pounded another area in the embattled region targeting a rebel gathering, officials said on Thursday.
The rebel toll in Wednesday's attack on the LTTE-held Vidattaltivu town in Mannar, which was captured by security forces, reached 51, according to the military.
While one soldier was killed in the incident, 15 others were injured, the defence ministry said.
Meanwhile, Air Force spokesman Janaka Nanayakkara said MI-24 helicopter gunships "raided an LTTE gathering in general area Iluppaikkadavai, 5 km north of Vidattaltivu, on Thursday noon."
It was not clear whether there was any casualty in the attack.
Separately, troops killed an LTTE rebel at Kilaly in Jaffna on Wednesday, the military said.
Three Tiger rebels were gunned down in north-eastern Ampaddankulam in Vavuniya on Wednesday, officials said, adding one security personnel also lost his life in the incident.
In the general area of Navvi in Vavuniya, troops shot dead four LTTE rebels on Wednesday.
In another incident, security forces gunned down seven Tiger rebels at Palaimoddai and Navathkulam in Vavuniya on Wednesday, the defence ministry said.
Troops, citing radio monitoring sources, said eight other Tiger rebels were killed and seven wounded in Janakapura, Andankulam and Kiribbanwewa in north-east Welioya on Wednesday.
Eight more LTTE cadres were killed in clashes in Jaffna and adjacent areas on Wednesday, officials said.
Also, troops engaged in mine clearing operations in north of Janakapura and Kiriibbanwewa areas unearthed 90 anti-personnel mines and seven improvised explosive devices, the defence ministry said.
