Military reports downing plane
Sri Lankan fighter jets shot down a small plane used by the Tamil Tigers’ rudimentary air wing today during a rebel attack on a northern military base, the military said.
The destruction of the plane marked the first time government forces were able to bring down one of the Tamil Tiger aircraft. Though the rebel aircraft have rarely caused major damage, their repeated attacks have frustrated and embarrassed government forces.
The rebel-allied website TamilNet said there was no immediate indication that a rebel plane had been downed.
Most journalists are banned from the war zone.
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