Tamil rebels launch first-ever airstrike in Sri Lanka

Tamil rebels launched their first-ever airstrike in their 25-year conflict with Sri Lanka’s government, using at least one small plane to bomb an air base outside the capital Colombo today.

Tamil Tiger rebels said the overnight raid, which killed three airmen and injured 16 personnel at the base about 20 miles north-west of Colombo, was aimed at halting what they called “indiscriminate” aerial bombing of Tamil areas and warned of more attacks.