Colombo, February 21: Sri Lankan Air Force Thursday launched air raids twice against Tamil Tiger rebel positions in the northern part of the country, the military said.

The Media Centre for National Security said in a statement that air force fighter jets bombed gun positions of the Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam (LTTE) at Mannar and Mullaithivu districts at 12 p.m. and again an hour later.

"These centres were used by LTTE terrorists to fire artillery at troops on the forward defence line," the statement said, claiming that the air strikes were successful.

Heavy fighting is underway in the north, with the government determined to defeat the LTTE before the end of this year.

The military said more than 700 people have been killed in the escalating conflict since the beginning of this year.

The LTTE has been fighting for a separate homeland for minority Tamils in the north and east for more than two decades, resulting in the death of more than 70,000 people
.