Jan 03, Colombo: Sri Lanka Air Force fighter jets this afternoon launched a strike on LTTE's main Sea Tiger base located in the coastal stretch of the Mullaitivu lagoon, the military said.

Citing Air Force sources, Defence Ministry said air observation images have shown the rebels fleeing deeper into the jungles of Mullaitivu in total disarray.

Air Force MI-24 helicopter gunships raided three identified LTTE positions earlier in the day to provide close combat air support to the troops, Air Force Spokesman Wing Commander Janaka Nanayakkara said.

Helicopter gunships strafed an LTTE strongpoint northeast of Oddusudan around 6:15 a.m. A second raid targeted a position 2.5 km south of Mullaitivu around 1:15 p.m. while the third attack targeted an LTTE strongpoint 1.5 km east of the Paranthan - Mullaitivu road, spokesman said.

All four attacks were successful according to pilots, he added.

Meanwhile soldiers of 57 Division and Task Force-I continued their advance further into the rebel held areas of Iranamadu, Kachchilamadu and Paranthan in Kilinochchi yesterday Friday confronting the rebels at several locations. A large number of Tiger cadres were killed during those confrontations and few soldiers sustained injuries, the military said.

Sri Lanka's Army Commander Lt. General Sarath Fonseka has promised to defeat terrorism in the country completely within the next few months.