May 04, Colombo: Sri Lankan Air Force fighter jets bombed an LTTE logistic storage depot today, located 5km West of Pudukkudiyirippu in Mullaitivu District while latest clashes in the northern battlefronts killed at least 39 LTTE cadres and eight soldiers, the military said.

The Air Force spokesperson, Wing Commander Andrew Wijesooriya said air sorties were launched this evening following extensive surveillance and air reconnaissance information indicated intensified activities in the area.

Meanwhile the Media Center for National Security (MCNS) said that the army found six bodies of the LTTE, while 63 Tamil Tigers and sixteen soldiers were reportedly injured. In the worst attack, at least 17 Tamil Tigers were killed in confrontations with the troops in Welioya. Seven soldiers were also killed in the clashes, the Defense Ministry said. The deaths were reported after the clashes in Ethawetunuwewa, Janakapura, Kokkuthuduwai, Kiriibanwewa north and Adankulam areas.

Another 20 Tigers and a soldier were killed in the clashes along the front lines in Mannar during the day yesterday (03) while two Tiger rebels were killed in Jaffna. Following the intense fighting in Mannar, troops captured a 1.5 km square area in Puliyankulam, defense sources said.

Independent verification of battlefield casualty figures is not possible as the conflict zone is restricted to the media.