Jan 30, Colombo: Hundreds of Sri Lankan troops pushed through the front lines of the Tamil Tiger rebels in Muhamalai and Nagarkovil and overran 35 rebel bunkers in a surprise attack killing 10 Tigers, the military said.

Later Air Force carried out air strikes on the field headquarters of the LTTE at Weddukadu and destroyed the rebel base, the Media Center for National Security said.

In a pre dawn strike, infantrymen based in the northern Jaffna peninsula crossed the front lines into rebel-held territory to the south and attacked 35 Tamil Tiger bunkers.

LTTE radio transmissions have revealed 10 cadres were killed in the confrontation. However, ground troops have reported that 25-30 terrorists were either killed or wounded, Military sources said. Seven army soldiers were also wounded in the fighting, sources added.

Fighting has intensified lately in the North as the Sri Lankan government has determined to crush the rebels and drive them away from the North. Military has been successful in their attempts recently to corner the rebels into the Wanni region.