July 13, 2007: In response to the loss of their
eastern territory, which was about half the area controlled by the rebels, the
LTTE said it would now concentrate attacks on economic targets, using its
terrorist skills to cripple the national economy. There has been an
increase in terrorist type attacks in the north, and the LTTE is apparently
trying to goad the army and police into attacking the Tamil population around
the capital and elsewhere on the island, to make these Tamils more willing to
support LTTE terrorist operations. This shift to an emphasis on terrorist
operations indicates that the LTTE is unsure of its ability to hang on in the
north.
July 12, 2007: The government declared the
LTTE defeated in the eastern part of the island country. The armed forces would
now move most of their forces north, to take on the main LTTE force. This
was a big boost for morale in the military, which had suffered many major
defeats while fighting the LTTE in the past.
July 11, 2007: In the east, the last major
LTTE base was captured. The LTTE said it would continue waging a guerilla war in
the east.
July 10, 2007: In Australia, the LTTE's top
fund raiser was arrested and accused of fraud, and belonging to a terrorist
organization.
July 9, 2007: In the east, troops continued
clearing out the last major concentration of LTTE fighters, hunting for about
200 of them believed to be in the area of Thoppigala. Nearly 500 LTTE
fighters have been killed in the east in the last five months.
July 8, 2007: Off the north coast, the navy
intercepted a group of LTTE boats, and drove them off. Three navy boats
were damaged, and at least two LTTE rebels were killed. On land in the north,
fighting continued outside Trincomalee.
July 7, 2007: In the east, at least twenty were
killed (12 LTTE and eight soldiers) as troops advanced on the last major LTTE
base in the east. In the north, troops fought the LTTE outside the major port
of Trincomalee, killing three rebels.
July 6, 2007: Troops advanced in the east,
closing in on the last major LTTE base in the area. Air force jets bombed known
LTTE locations.
