Over 12 Sri Lankan Air Force personnel and 20 rebels were killed in a daring air and ground pre-dawn attack by the Tamil Tigers on an Air Force base in Sri Lanka's Anuradhapura on Monday.
Two light aircraft of the Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam dropped two bombs on the Air Force camp at around 3 am, while a small group of rebels infiltrated the airbase. Nine people, including eight Air Force personnel, were killed in the attack, said spokesman Ajayanta D' Silva.
At least 20 rebels were also killed in the assault, he added.
Four Air Force personnel were killed when a Bell-212 helicopter crashed after coming under LTTE attack in an area south of the Air Force base, Defence Ministry spokesman
Two pilots and two other officers were killed in the incident at Doramadalawa, 13 km east of Anuradhapara. Two Mi-24 helicopters stationed at the base were also damaged, the spokesman said.
After a series of reverses, this is the most daring attack in the last six months by the LTTE. The rebel group had used an aircraft for the first time to bomb the island's main military air base on March 26, killing three airmen and wounding 16.
The rebels have carried out several more attacks since then, including strikes on a fuel refinery and gasoline storage site.
Meanwhile, LTTE spokesman Irasiah Ilanthirayan confirmed the attack by the rebels.