The Sri Lankan Airforce attacked LTTE positions at Nagarkovil in the Jaffna peninsula and Pooneryn on the mainland, on 30 June and 1 July. The government claim that the LTTE are making preparations to regain Jaffna and the airstrikes were aimed at pre-empting Tiger attacks.
India and the United States expressed disappointment over the development. The US said in a statement: "We respect the right of any nation to defend its territorial integrity, but it is also true that violence begets violence". Observers say that the two nations may be concerned that the airstrikes will provide an opportunity for the LTTE to launch an all out offensive to capture Jaffna.
A group of journalists who visited Jaffna in late June say that the people and organisations in the peninsula had urged negotiations between the government and the LTTE. Local civic organisations had argued for a political solution based on the proposition of "self-rule in the north-east and shared rule in the centre". The journalists say this calls for fully-fledged autonomy along the US or Swiss lines for the north-east region and for 60:40 power-sharing mechanism for the minority communities at the centre.
The Army shot dead two young men near a temple at Nallur in Jaffna town on 22 June. According to the military, they were LTTE members. Reports say soldiers arrested five civilians, including Selvarajah Kamalaruban, on 24 June during a search operation in Vadamaratchy. They were taken to a camp and severely beaten and were later admitted to the Manthikai hospital. Seven soldiers were killed in a landmine attack on 25 June at Madduvil, 15 miles east of Jaffna town.
In Mannar District on the mainland, according to the Citizen’s Committee, Arumugam Thevarajah has disappeared after he went to a military office on 18 June to obtain a residence permit. He had arrived in Mannar three days earlier from the LTTE-controlled Vanni region. According relatives, Student S Kumanan, 15, is missing since 13 June.
In mid June, security forces arrested 16 Indian fishermen off Mannar Island. They were remanded by the Mannar court until 4 July. The military say large number of Indian fishermen illegally enter Sri Lankan territorial waters and the Tigers, posing as fishermen, use the opportunity to transport fuel and weapons to the northern coast.
Six security force personnel died in an LTTE ambush at Gomarankadawela, 14 miles north-west of Trincomalee on 1 June. The Sea Tigers and the Navy clashed off the coast of Sampur on 22 June. The LTTE claim that they captured a naval vessel.