Jaffna University Assault

From c May 1987, Sri Lanka continued on a further descent into internal, largely ethnic, conflict between Sinhalese and Tamils. The main rebel group was known in the west as the Tamil Tigers and locally as the Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam (LTTE). The Indo-Sri Lankan Agreement had resulted in India sending in the Indian Peace Keeping Force (IPKF) in the north of the country.

Early in Oct 1987, the IPKF learnt of a meeting amongst the leaders of the LTTE to be held in buildings at Jaffna University. An opportunity to locate and detain the rebel leadership was hoped to bring the insurrection to an early end and save countless lives. Four Mi-8 from a mixed group of IAF units would make repeated air lifts of troops over an expected period of 90 minutes, and provide the extraction once the objectives were achieved.

In the event, insufficient helicopters, confusion between the Air Force and Army, the choice of landing site, the visibility and a gross underestimation of the strength of the opposition they would face resulted in high losses, damage to helicopters serious enough to prevent the whole air drop taking place and the abandonment of the mission.