Sri Lankan army shells hit hospital
Your support helps us to tell the story
From reproductive rights to climate change to Big Tech, The Independent is on the ground when the story is developing. Whether it's investigating the financials of Elon Musk's pro-Trump PAC or producing our latest documentary, 'The A Word', which shines a light on the American women fighting for reproductive rights, we know how important it is to parse out the facts from the messaging.
At such a critical moment in US history, we need reporters on the ground. Your donation allows us to keep sending journalists to speak to both sides of the story.
The Independent is trusted by Americans across the entire political spectrum. And unlike many other quality news outlets, we choose not to lock Americans out of our reporting and analysis with paywalls. We believe quality journalism should be available to everyone, paid for by those who can afford it.
Your support makes all the difference.A hospital in Sri Lanka's war zone was hit twice by artillery attacks yesterday, killing at least six civilians.
Dr Thurairajah Varatharajah said the shells in the later attack appeared to have been fired by the Sri Lankan army and killed five. He said they caused extensive damage to Puthukkudiyiruppu hospital, one of the last functioning health institutions inside rebel-held territory.
The Red Cross said the earlier artillery attack killed two people. It did not say which side fired. Dr Varatharajah said one person was killed. The military spokesman, Brigadier Udaya Nanayakkara, did not answer calls seeking comment.
The attack on the hospital came amid reports of growing casualties among Tamil civilians trapped with the rebels inside a tiny patch of jungle and villages. The Red Cross estimates 250,000 are in the area, while the government says the number is smaller.
The Defence Secretary, Gotabhaya Rajapaksa, also warned that Western diplomats, journalists and aid groups would be "chased" out of the country if they appear to favor the rebels. Singling out the ambassadors of Germany and Switzerland and the BBC, CNN and al-Jazeera, the Defence Secretary, Gotabhaya Rajapaksa, said they would be expelled if they were found to have favoured the Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam. "They will be chased away [if they try] to give a second wind to the LTTE," the brother of President Mahinda Rajapaksa, said.
The rebels suffered more losses as troops captured two camps for the Black Tigers, the rebels' suicide squad, and recovered the bodies of 12 rebels.
Subscribe to Independent Premium to bookmark this article
Want to bookmark your favourite articles and stories to read or reference later? Start your Independent Premium subscription today.
Join our commenting forum
Join thought-provoking conversations, follow other Independent readers and see their replies
Comments