SLAF claims it hit Tiger arms vessel

[TamilNet, Sunday, 02 November 1997, 23:59 GMT]
The Sri Lankan Airforce claimed today that they detected and desroyed a large ship which it suspected of belonging to the Liberation Tigers off the coast of Mullaithivu in the early hours of the morning today.

The SLAF also claimed that some Sea Tiger boats which were engaged in the unloading were also destroyed by Kfir aircraft and Mi 17 helicopter gunships.

The Sri Lankan Navy also claimed that it took part in the attack. The SLAF said that the ship is burning now in mid sea.

Two trucks which had been transporting the weapons unloaded from the ship were also bombed said the SLAF this afternoon.

Meanwhile Tamil sources in Vavuniya said that the detection appears to have taken place well after the Sea Tigers had unloaded the cargo during the previous night.

However, there was no independent confirmation of the SLAF's claims.