Within hours after the LTTE called off their so called unilateral suspension of hostilities midnight on Tuesday, security forces mounted a major ground offensive in the Jaffna theatre, army headquarters said yesterday.

Troops overcame stiff enemy resistance and were able to breach defences at some places, the headquarters said adding that about 15 soldiers were killed and about 40 wounded in action.

Military spokesman Brigadier Sanath Karunaratne yesterday said that the offensive code-named "Agni khela 1" was launched to clear enemy positions and further expand the Eluthumadduval defence line. He did not identify the targeted area but the offensive was apparently aimed at Pallai, a village in LTTE hands since last year.

The offensive, the first major military action this year in the Jaffna theatre, was launched to further weaken LTTE positions in the Jaffna theatre, senior military officials said yesterday.

"Operation is in progress," Brigadier Karunaratne said adding that troops mounted the offensive at 5.30 am. A couple of hours before the launch of "Agni khela 1" terrorists engaged security forces front-line positions at Muhamalai, Kilaly and Nagarkovil with 120 mm and 81 mm mortar fire. At least 22 security forces personnel were wounded, some of them seriously, he said.

A few hours after the offensive got underway, Army Commander Lt. General Lionel Balagalle and Navy Commander Vice Admiral D. W. K. Sandagiri flew to Palaly where they met Security Forces Commander, Jaffna, Major General Anton Wijendra and were briefed of the situation.

Under Wijendra’s command, security forces carried out a series of successful offensives beginning September to December last year. These offensives forced the LTTE to abandon the 140 square km salient they held near the Jaffna town. Army lost this area in April-May period when terrorists carried out a series of assaults forcing the security forces to abandon large areas including Elephant Pass.

Army headquarters last Saturday said that the LTTE was engaged in building-up new defences and strengthening their forward positions in the Jaffna theatre.

Security forces did not conduct any major military offensives this year although enemy targets were routinely engaged in the north and the east.

A spokesman for TULF yesterday expressed grave concern over the government’s decision to renew offensive operations amidst Norwegian bid to bring the two warring parties back to the negotiating table.