COLOMBO: Sri Lanka’s air force launched attacks on two Tamil separatist camps in the embattled north Sunday, and infantry clashes elsewhere in the region killed eight rebels and three soldiers, the military said. Helicopter gunships attacked a Sea Tigers camp in Kavitaramunaiin the rebel stronghold of Pooneryn before dawn, said air force spokesman Wing Commander Janaka Nanayakkara. The Sea Tigers are the rebels’ naval wing.

Hours later, fighter jets bombed a rebel training camp deep in guerrilla-held territory in Mankulam, Nanayakkara said. Also on Sunday, jets pounded rebel areas in Kilinochchi district in support of ground troops fighting there. Nanayakkara did not provide details of casualties and damage. Meanwhile, infantry battles on Saturday along the front lines separating government-controlled areas from rebel-held territory left eight rebels and three soldiers dead, said military spokesman Brig Udaya Nanayakkara.

Clashes in Vavuniya killed five rebels and three soldiers, while fighting in Welioya and Kilinochchi killed three rebels and wounded eight soldiers, he said.