Sri Lankan Rebels Overrun Army Base in Fierce Fighting

COLOMBO, Sri Lanka — More than 4,000 Tamil rebels attacked a key military base in northern Sri Lanka on Thursday, overwhelming 1,200 government troops in one of the most intense battles of the 13-year civil war.

Helicopters dropped government forces near the besieged base to prepare a counterattack, military officials said, speaking on condition of anonymity. Warplanes, helicopters and artillery support were also summoned.

Naval gunboats that rushed to the scene about 175 miles northeast of Colombo, the capital, were driven back by rebel boats and mortar fire. Eight rebel boats were destroyed, while the guerrillas damaged a naval craft.

Casualty reports were sketchy. The government said 14 rebels and one government sailor were killed.

The Tamil rebels, who want an independent homeland in northern Sri Lanka, overran the army camp’s perimeter shortly after midnight.

Pilots flying overhead reported that most of the base was in rebel hands by noon. Planes and helicopter gunships had been bombing and strafing the rebels since dawn.