Hundreds Killed as Sri Lankan Troops Battle Tamil Rebels

COLOMBO, Sri Lanka — In the largest military operation in two years, government troops used tanks and aircraft to battle Tamil rebels in northern Sri Lanka, and hundreds of people died, officials and witnesses said Friday.

There were conflicting reports on casualties in the operation, which began Tuesday and involved 9,000 troops in the rebel-controlled Jaffna peninsula.

The military said 114 soldiers were killed and about 250 wounded.

The military said more than 200 rebels died, but the rebels said 50 were killed.

Forty-two civilians were killed, according to witnesses. The rebels put the number of civilian casualties at 60 dead and 100 injured.

It was the biggest military offensive since July, 1991.

Jaffna peninsula is largely controlled by Tamil rebels who have been fighting since 1983 to set up an independent nation in the northern and eastern districts.