Key Facts
- Duration
- 7 days (18–25 July 1996)
- Sri Lankan troops killed/MIA
- ~1,500
- LTTE fighters killed
- 315
- LTTE operation codename
- Operation Unceasing Waves-1
- Unit overrun
- 25 'Mullaitivu' Brigade (understrength)
Strategic Narrative Overview
On 18 July 1996, the LTTE launched Operation Unceasing Waves-1, overwhelming the garrison at Mullaitivu with a concentrated assault. The understrength 25 'Mullaitivu' Brigade was rapidly encircled and destroyed. A combined relief operation by Sri Lanka's army, navy, and air force was mounted in the days that followed, but the brigade had been eliminated before rescuers could reach the base, forcing the relief force to withdraw without achieving its objective.
01 / The Origins
The Sri Lankan Civil War pitted the government against the Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam (LTTE), who sought an independent Tamil homeland in the north and east. By mid-1996, the LTTE retained significant military capacity in the north-east despite government offensives. The Mullaitivu military base, held by an understrength infantry brigade, represented a key government presence in LTTE-dominated territory, making it a high-value target for a major Tamil Tiger offensive.
03 / The Outcome
By 25 July 1996, the Sri Lankan military abandoned Mullaitivu town and ceded control of much of Mullaitivu District to the LTTE. Approximately 1,500 government troops were killed or missing, and large quantities of military equipment fell into LTTE hands. The defeat was among the most severe suffered by the Sri Lankan Army during the civil war and significantly expanded LTTE territorial control in the north-east.
Belligerents & Mobilization Analysis
Side A
1 belligerent
Side B
1 belligerent
Kinetic Engagement Axis
Scroll horizontally to view full axis. Events plotted relatively.