Downfall
July 29, 2008: The generals believe that the LTTE is just about finished. Army intelligence estimates that the LTTE has lost two thirds of its military power this year. That includes 9,000 fighters, most of them newly conscripted teenagers. Between losing territory, and Tamils fleeing to government controlled territory, the LTTE only controls about 200,000 civilians in the north.
The army believes the LTTE only has about 5,000 armed fighters, and most of these are recently conscripted and poorly trained. The LTTE is also short on ammunition, because of the improved navy interdiction campaign during the last year. The fighting in the north is getting more intense, and causing several hundred casualties a week. But most of these are LTTE losses, and the army has been advancing at the rate of about three kilometers a week.
The typical combat is army troops versus LTTE fighters defending their earth and log bunkers. The LTTE conscripts are kept in line by the few "cadres" (veteran LTTE fighters) still alive. There are believed to be a thousand or so cadres left, including the few hundred LTTE elite commandos. The army believes that the LTTE will be crushed by the end of the year, and are confident enough to say so out loud.
Read more,
http://www.strategypage.com/qnd/srilank/articles/20080729.aspx
The army believes the LTTE only has about 5,000 armed fighters, and most of these are recently conscripted and poorly trained. The LTTE is also short on ammunition, because of the improved navy interdiction campaign during the last year. The fighting in the north is getting more intense, and causing several hundred casualties a week. But most of these are LTTE losses, and the army has been advancing at the rate of about three kilometers a week.
The typical combat is army troops versus LTTE fighters defending their earth and log bunkers. The LTTE conscripts are kept in line by the few "cadres" (veteran LTTE fighters) still alive. There are believed to be a thousand or so cadres left, including the few hundred LTTE elite commandos. The army believes that the LTTE will be crushed by the end of the year, and are confident enough to say so out loud.
Read more,
http://www.strategypage.com/qnd/srilank/articles/20080729.aspx
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