Photo: Sri Lanka's government defence spokesman Keheliya Rambukwella speaks at a news briefing in Colombo October 22, 2007. The LTTE 's Air Wing bombed a north Sri Lanka Air Force base before dawn on Monday, the military said, while the Tigers said their suicide fighters mounted their biggest ground assault to date against the base.By:Defencewire
(October,22,Colombo, Sri Lanka Guardian) At least eight aircraft have been destroyed and several were damaged in a combined land and air attack by the Black Tiger suicide squad on he Air Force Base camp in Anuradhapura. Aerican built Beach Super King (CT5748) craft, and two Russian built MI24 gunships, a Bell 212 helicopter, a Chinese built K8 trainer aircraft and three more small craft have been destroyed by the Tigers, informed sources said. Several other aircraft including MI17 transport helicopters and Un-Manned Air Vehicles sustained severe damages and possibly are out of operation.Two ZLIN Z 143LSi aircraft bombed over sky of Anuradhapura, while specially trained Tiger guerrilla infiltrated from two different locations into the camp and attacked the hangers.
At least two bombs fell inside the camp. Military fired by anti-aircraft guns, but Air Tigers managed to escape over Vauniya officials said. American built Bell 212 helicopter airborne from Vauniya, came under friendly fire and crashed in to Mihinthale killing all four on the board. An anti-aircraft missile hit by the air force fell in to a nearby school premises and killing at least 15 Buffalos, a resident said.
LTTE spokesman Rasiah Illanthirian said 21 Black Tigers had taken part in the attack. Soon after the LTTE planes left from Anuradhapura Kfir and MiG jets bombed locations near Kilinochchi using para lights, LTTE said. Sri Lankan Air Force Three officers and four men from the Air Force have been killed during this morning's attack.
Three were killed during the initial confrontation and another four killed at the Bell-212 crash-site. Eight more have been injured. Members of the Air Force Regimental Special Forces are still hunting for the LTTE unit that launched the attack on the Anuradhapura Airbase. They are being assisted by the Sri Lanka Army. Several sectors have now been cleared inside the base, but several more uncleared areas still remain.
The group is thought to be trapped in these sectors. The exact number of fighters in the small unit is unknown but is estimated to be around eight. The most valuable aircraft lost in the attack is the Beachcraft which was provided by the United States government. The craft was used for reconnaissance missions on LTTE targets, including the recent attack on the Vishwamadu LTTE Research and Development Headquarters.
Defence analysts observe that the Air Force's security breach may have reversed the psychological advantage achieved by the Army and the Navy over the LTTE in recent months.
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