Navy foils LTTE bid to smuggle warlike materials: 11 LTTE boats
destroyed - Delft [Updated]
 Eleven LTTE attack boats were destroyed including two
suicide craft during a heavy sea battle erupted this morning (December
26), in seas south off Delft, Naval sources say.
According to latest information, Navy fast attack
craft triumphed destroying eleven LTTE boats, while unconfirmed sources
reveal at least 40 terrorists were killed during the hours long sea
confrontation.
Naval task units including fast attack craft engaged
decisive strikes at an LTTE boat cluster consisting 16 boats, Naval
sources said.
Elite Naval sea units detected a suspicious boat
cluster in seas south west off Delft, today at around 7.30a.m. Clashes
erupted and turned into a fierce sea battle when Naval task units took
initiative to cut off the suspicious boat movement, at 11.30a.m, defence
sources say. According to Naval sources, LTTE elements were engaged in a
clandestine sea movement smuggling warlike material towards the
non-liberated Nachchikudha coast when detected by the Naval patrol
units.
Naval fast attack craft responded effectively towards
the LTTE cluster with heavy gunfire and evasive battle manoeuvres,
forcing terrorist boats to flee further southwards. According to
information received, SLAF MI-24 gunships also engaged aerial strikes at
the fleeing LTTE boats.
Meanwhile, defence sources said LTTE communication has
gone silent since the break-off of fighting in the waters off Delft.
Further information said, a dockyard built naval craft was damaged when
two suicide LTTE boats exploded in the Naval retaliatory attacks. The
damaged boat is now been towed towards the Kankesanthurai harbour, by
Naval sea units security sources said. According to
latest reports, slain body of a naval officer was recovered by
naval units during search operations conducted. Two naval personnel were
also rescued during the salvage operations, sources reveal.
Meanwhile, eleven other naval personnel were reported missing following
the confrontation, Naval sources said. Related Link:
Sea battle erupts south of Delft |
