“He who wants to defend everything defends nothing.” — Frederick the Great
The Sri Lanka Army has advanced and spread across the entire Manthai Area by yesterday. The LTTE launched five counter attacks to retake the Manthai FDL which were all repulsed by the Army. The Army’s motto for these undeclared and unnamed operations is ‘Don’t Die for Our Land. Let Them Die for Theirs’. The motto signifies the strategic objective of not fighting for control over land and forcing the Tigers to defend their own. The strategy has yielded significant successes.
Field Commanders are being pushed to kill as many LTTE as possible and not to hold on to the territory gained. The operations, spearheaded by the Commando Regiment, also has the backing of the 58 Division stationed in Mannar. On the 9th, these units destroyed a bunker manned by the LTTE’s elite Charles Anthony Regiment. Six bodies recovered from the scene are to be handed over to the ICRC today. The Army’s desire to confront as many LTTE as possible has proven successful with the majority of the LTTE casualties being from Charles Anthony Regiment.
Meanwhile the Sri Lanka Air Force is to take delivery of a sophisticated unmanned Aerial Vehicle (UAV) within the next few days. Another three are to be delivered early next year by a middle-eastern Contractor.
In another important development, the Sri Lanka Army has quietly raised its 3rd Commando Regiment for special operations in the Deep Battle-space (LRRP). The Unit is Commanded by a Colonel (recently promoted) responsible for the successful capture of Thoppigala and a Major from the VIP protection team that guarded the late Minister Lakshman Kadiragamar prior to his demise. The Colonel is currently reorganizing the unit for better success.
(Defencewire)
No Auspicious Times…Random Attacks Only!
SLA units launched a surprise attack on 24 bunkers ahead of the Nagarkovil, Muhamalai and Kilali FDL at around 2am today, completely destroying the bunkers. The majority of the Tigers manning the bunkers ran for their lives. The names of 15 Tigers killed were later confirmed. SLA sources indicated that around 30 others may have been injured in the attack. The Army lost two men.
The successes come after the Sri Lanka Army changed the timing of its attacks, from pre-scheduled strikes launched after Bodhipooja, based on auspicious times given by astrologers to totally random offensives launched at the will of the officers and men involved. This is causing confusion in LTTE strategy, which had, since 1983 been prepared to face only pre-scheduled operations.
Earlier, the Tigers were able to monitor the movement of men, machines and supplies and then prepare themselves for the strike, which was launched at a particular time on a particular day only. Now, offensives are launched sometimes daily, sometimes weekly, sometimes a couple of attacks a day at different intervals.
The Sri Lanka Army has also cleared the Pallaikuli area in North Mannar, thus facilitating a future attack to recapture Adampan Junction and Uylankulam. They are now only one kilometer from Adampan Junction. An unfortunately large number of child soldiers and women fighters deployed in difficult to man FDLs are being killed almost daily.
(Defencewire)
