COLOMBO, Sri Lanka, Sept. 1 (UPI) -- The Sri Lankan military says 42 Tamil Tiger rebels and five of its soldiers died in heavy fighting in the island nation's troubled northern region.
Military spokesman, Brig. Udaya Nanayakkara said security forces were able to make rapid advances into the rebel-held territory and crush rebel activity in the region, the BBC reported.
There was no report from the Tamil Tigers about the Sunday clashes. Journalists are not allowed into the conflict zone to verify the government's claims.
The Tamil Tigers have been fighting for years for a separate homeland for the Tamil speaking minority on the island.
Violence between the two sides has escalated in recent months as government forces have been waging an intense campaign to drive the rebels from their strongholds.
