Apr 16, Colombo: Assisting the ground troops Sri Lanka Air Force struck LTTE targets ahead of battlefronts in northern Sri Lanka today while fighting on the ground killed 18 Tigers and 2 soldiers, the military said today.

Air force spokesperson Wing Commander Andrew Wijesooriya said MI 24 helicopter gun ships struck an LTTE bunker line and mortar gun positions ahead of Muhamalai forward defence line (FDL) in Jaffna this morning to assist the ground troops engaged in counterterrorist offensives in the area.

Air Force fighter jets late last night have bombed three identified LTTE camps located in Oddusudan area. Latest air reconnaissance last evening on the targets which had been under constant surveillance showed increased activity in the camps, the spokesman added.

Meanwhile in ground battles the across the northern regions of Jaffna and Wanni killed 12 Tigers and injured at least another 8, the military said.

The Defense Ministry reports said at least 26 Tigers were either killed or wounded during confrontations in Welioya. Two soldiers were also killed and 9 others suffered injuries. Confrontations in Mannar killed 6 Tigers, the reports added.

Independent verification of casualty figures is not possible as the conflict zone is not accessible to the reporters.