Clashes between government troops and Tamil Tigers took place in Sri Lanka both on land and sea, at least four rebels being killed in intense fire exchange, security sources informed on Monday.

Navy ships came across rebel boats off the northeast coast Monday morning and a fierce gunbattle erupted. The navy said its ships destroyed one rebel boat and seriously damaged others, but couldn’t release an official death toll saying three persons were wounded during the skirmish.

The Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam (LTTE) militant organization said three of its members died during Monday’s clashes, but added that several military ships were damaged in the same incident.

Meanwhile, army aircrafts launched an airstrike against presumed rebel positions in the northeast of Sri Lanka. The main targets were artillery posts used by Tamil rebels in battles with soldiers and the air force confirmed that the raid was successful.

Also on Monday, three militants and one serviceman died during fire exchange in the same volatile territories where rebels are still holed up.

The LTTE fighters have been engaged in a bloody conflict with security forces since the 1970s, their main goal being the establishment of an independent state in the north and east of Sri Lanka.

At least 5,000 people have been killed only in the past two years, as the conflict flared up once more after a ceasefire agreement was signed by both sides in 2002.