Clashes erupt in Jaffna FDL

[TamilNet, Thursday, 16 October 2008, 13:01 GMT]
Clashes between Sri Lanka Army (SLA) and Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam (LTTE) erupted Thursday early morning in Thenmaraadchi Front Defence Line, after direct confrontations between Sri Lanka Navy (SLN) and the LTTE's Sea Tigers in Jaffna lagoon Wednesday night, according to the sources in Jaffna. As SLA in Jaffna has not released any information about this clash it is not known whether the clashes indicated a limited SLA military offensive.

Heavy artillery exchange between SLA and LTTE are said to be continuing in the FDL positions in Thenmaraadchi while simultaneous exchange of gunfire was also heard, residents near Thenmaraadchi FDL area said.

The SLN and the LTTE Sea Tigers clashed for more than two hours Wednesday night in Jaffna lagoon, the sources added.

SLA soldiers from their bases along in Jaffna launched artillery fire on LTTE held territory across Jaffna lagoon and the Tigers retaliated with artillery fire targeting coastal areas of Jaffna and SLA and SLN positions in Ma'ndaitheevu.

The residents of the coastal areas in Jaffna remained tense during the rocket fire exchanges but whether anyone hurt is not known yet.