Sri Lanka's air force launched helicopter attacks on rebel-held territory in the island's north June 21, as ground troops killed at least four guerrillas of the Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam (LTTE) in Mannar district. "Sri Lanka air force MI-24 helicopter gunships raided a gathering place of the LTTE," the Defense Ministry said in a statement. The LTTE made no statement, and there was no word on civilian casualties. (AFP, June 21)

At least 12 people were killed and 24 injured in a suspected Tamil Tiger suicide blast in the northern town of Vavuniya town June 16, with several schoolchildren among the wounded. (Reuters, June 16)

See our last post on Sri Lanka.