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{{Refimprove|date=August 2008}}
{{Infobox Military Conflict
{{Infobox Military Conflict
|conflict=Battle for the A-9 highway
|conflict= Battle for the A-9 highway
|partof=the [[Sri Lankan civil war]]
|partof= the [[Sri Lankan civil war]]<br>[[Operation Unceasing Waves III]]
|image=
|image=
|caption=
|caption=
|date=[[March 27]], [[2000]] - [[April 20]], [[2000]]
|date= March 27, 2000 – April 20, 2000
|place=[[Sri Lanka]]
|place= [[Sri Lanka]]
|casus=
|casus=
|territory=
|territory=
|result=Tamil Tiger victory
|result= Tamil Tiger victory
|combatant1=[[Image:COA of Sri Lanka.svg|18px]] [[Military of Sri Lanka]]
|combatant1= [[Image:Coat of arms of Sri Lanka.svg|18px]] [[Military of Sri Lanka]]
|combatant2=[[Image:Ltte emblem.jpg|30px]] [[Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam]]
|combatant2= [[Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam]]
|commander1=Unknown
|commander1= Unknown
|commander2=Velupillai Pirabakaran
|commander2= [[Velupillai Prabhakaran]]
|strength1=
|strength1=
|strength2=
|strength2=
|casualties1=203 killed, 1,067 wounded<ref>http://www.strategypage.com/search.asp?target=d:\inetpub\strategypageroot\fyeo\qndguide\docs\archives\sril2ka.htm&search=sri+lanka+2000+january-june</ref>
|casualties1= 203 killed<br>1,067 wounded<ref name='strategypage'>[http://www.strategypage.com/search.asp?target=d:\inetpub\strategypageroot\fyeo\qndguide\docs\archives\sril2ka.htm&search=sri+lanka+2000+january-june StrategyPage.com - Search the StrategyPage<!-- Bot generated title -->]</ref>
|casualties2=317 killed<ref>http://www.strategypage.com/search.asp?target=d:\inetpub\strategypageroot\fyeo\qndguide\docs\archives\sril2ka.htm&search=sri+lanka+2000+january-june</ref>
|casualties2= 317 killed<ref name='strategypage'/>
|casualties3=50 civilians killed<ref>http://www.strategypage.com/search.asp?target=d:\inetpub\strategypageroot\fyeo\qndguide\docs\archives\sril2ka.htm&search=sri+lanka+2000+january-june</ref>
|casualties3= 50 civilians killed<ref name='strategypage'/>
|notes=
|notes=
}}
}}
{{Campaignbox Eelam War III}}
{{Campaignbox Sri Lankan Civil War}}
{{Campaignbox Sri Lankan Civil War}}


The '''Battle for the A-9 highway''' was a battle fought in [[March]] and [[April]] [[2000]] for the control of the Sri Lankan A-9 highway.
The '''Battle for the A-9 highway''' was fought in March and April 2000 for the control of the Sri Lankan A-9 highway.


==Background==
==Background==
⚫
The A-9 highway connected the Sri Lankan capital with the northern Jaffna peninsula. More importantly, the [[Elephant Pass]] military base, was the only land route for Jaffna. If the LTTE were going to fully surround Elephant Pass they would have to take the north-south highway.


⚫
==Battle==
⚫
The A-9 highway connected the Sri Lankan capitol with the northern Jafna peninsual. More importently the [[Elephant Pass]] military base, which was the only land route for Jaffna. If the rebels were going to surround Elephant Pass they would have to take the north-south highway.
⚫
On March 27, the [[LTTE]] attacked the north-south highway. At first they attacked a coastal army base with a combined land and amphibious assault. The navy engaged the LTTE flotilla of small boats, but the ground attack continued. Heavy fighting continued into the night.


⚫
On March 28, the LTTE offensive was closing in on a four-base government complex. By next morning those bases fell. Several SLA tanks were also captured.
⚫
==The Battle==


⚫
By March 30, the Tigers took another government base and managed to cut the A-9 highway. At this point, thousands of civilian refugees had fled the area. The air force had been hitting rebel columns caught in the open while the navy had prevented the rebels from landing reinforcements along the coast.
⚫
On March 27, the LTTE attacked the north-south highway. LTTE rebels attacked a coastal army base with a combined land and amphibious assault. The navy shot up the LTTE flotilla of small boats, but the ground attack continued. Heavy fighting continued into the night.


⚫
By April 3, the LTTE continued to hold a four kilometer stretch of the A-9 highway. However, more army reinforcements were coming in by air and sea, air strikes and navy ships were also hitting the rebels hard, stalling the LTTE offensive.
⚫
On March 28, the LTTE offensive is closing in on a four base government complex. By next morning those bases fall. Several SLA tanks are also captured.


⚫
On April 11, the army managed, after two weeks of heavy fighting, to retake the A-9 highway and clear all rebel positions from it. On April 18, however, the LTTE renewed its offensive on the A-9 and cut the highway once again. By the next day all remaining SLA troops were in retreat toward the Elephant Pass military base, which was coming under heavy LTTE artillery fire. Thus the operation to take the highway was a success for the Tigers and this led to more success in the [[Second Battle of Elephant Pass]], which caused the fall of the Elephant Pass base three days later.<ref name="strategypage" />
⚫
By March 30, the Tigers took another government base and managed to cut the A-9 highway. By this point thousands of civilian refugees had fled the area. The air force had been hitting rebel columns caught in the open while the navy had prevented the rebels from landing reinforcements along the coast.


==See also==
⚫
By April 3, the LTTE continued to hold a four kilometer stretch of the A-9 highway. However more army reinforcements were coming in by air and sea, and also air strikes and navy ships were hitting the rebels hard stalling the LTTE offensive.
*[[List of Sri Lankan Civil War battles]]


⚫
==References==
On April 11, the army managed, after two weeks of heavy fighting, to retake the A-9 highway and clear all rebel positions from it.
{{Reflist}}


{{coord missing|Sri Lanka}}
⚫
On April 18, however, the LTTE renewed it's offensive on the A-9. And the next day they cut the A-9 highway again. By the next day all remaining SLA troops were in retreat toward the Elephant Pass military base, which was coming under heavy rebel artillery fire. Thus the operation to take the highway was a success for the Tigers and this led to a more greater success in the battle for Elephant Pass, which fell three days later.<ref>http://www.strategypage.com/search.asp?target=d:\inetpub\strategypageroot\fyeo\qndguide\docs\archives\sril2ka.htm&search=sri+lanka+2000+january-june</ref>

{{DEFAULTSORT:Battle For The A-9 Highway}}
⚫
[[Category:Conflicts in 2000|A-9 highway]]
⚫
[[Category:2000 in Sri Lanka]]
⚫
[[Category:Battles of Eelam War III|A-9 highway]]
[[Category:March 2000 events in Asia]]
[[Category:April 2000 events in Asia]]


⚫
==References==
{{reflist}}


{{SriLanka-hist-stub}}
⚫
[[Category:History of Sri Lanka]]
⚫
[[Category:Conflicts in 2000]]
⚫
[[Category:Battles involving Sri Lanka]]
[[Category:Military of Sri Lanka]]

Latest revision as of 23:41, 19 August 2021

Battle for the A-9 highway
Part of the Sri Lankan civil war
Operation Unceasing Waves III
DateMarch 27, 2000 – April 20, 2000
Location
Sri Lanka
Result Tamil Tiger victory
Belligerents
Military of Sri Lanka Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam
Commanders and leaders
Unknown Velupillai Prabhakaran
Casualties and losses
203 killed
1,067 wounded[1]		 317 killed[1]
50 civilians killed[1]

The Battle for the A-9 highway was fought in March and April 2000 for the control of the Sri Lankan A-9 highway.

Background

[edit]

The A-9 highway connected the Sri Lankan capital with the northern Jaffna peninsula. More importantly, the Elephant Pass military base, was the only land route for Jaffna. If the LTTE were going to fully surround Elephant Pass they would have to take the north-south highway.

Battle

[edit]

On March 27, the LTTE attacked the north-south highway. At first they attacked a coastal army base with a combined land and amphibious assault. The navy engaged the LTTE flotilla of small boats, but the ground attack continued. Heavy fighting continued into the night.

On March 28, the LTTE offensive was closing in on a four-base government complex. By next morning those bases fell. Several SLA tanks were also captured.

By March 30, the Tigers took another government base and managed to cut the A-9 highway. At this point, thousands of civilian refugees had fled the area. The air force had been hitting rebel columns caught in the open while the navy had prevented the rebels from landing reinforcements along the coast.

By April 3, the LTTE continued to hold a four kilometer stretch of the A-9 highway. However, more army reinforcements were coming in by air and sea, air strikes and navy ships were also hitting the rebels hard, stalling the LTTE offensive.

On April 11, the army managed, after two weeks of heavy fighting, to retake the A-9 highway and clear all rebel positions from it. On April 18, however, the LTTE renewed its offensive on the A-9 and cut the highway once again. By the next day all remaining SLA troops were in retreat toward the Elephant Pass military base, which was coming under heavy LTTE artillery fire. Thus the operation to take the highway was a success for the Tigers and this led to more success in the Second Battle of Elephant Pass, which caused the fall of the Elephant Pass base three days later.[1]

See also

[edit]

References

[edit]
  1. ^ a b c d StrategyPage.com - Search the StrategyPage


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