Troops of Army 57 Division, Task Force 3 and Task Force 4 have opened up the A-34 road (Mankulam- Mullaittivu) road up to Tanniyuttu, following recent counter terrorist operations on the Mullaittivu battlefront, reveal battlefield sources.Sri Lanka Air Force fighter jets and MI-24 helicopter gunships carried out air strikes at LTTE gatherings in the Mullaittivu area in support of advancing troops this morning (Jan 5). According to the defence sources, the air strikes were carried out between 11 Am to 12.30 PM targeting LTTE cadres withdrawing into jungle areas. The sources citing pilots confirmed that the attacks were successful.Meanwhile, Task Force 3 troops confronted with a group of terrorist in the North of Ampakamam area around 7, this morning. Troops found a body of a slain LTTE cadre during subsequent search.Troops of Task Force 4 today (Jan 5) completed mop up operations in the Oddusudan area. Troops engaged artillery at a tractor transporting terrorist in the Kachchilamadu, North of Oddusudan around 11.20, last forenoon. Intercepted LTTE radio transmissions confirmed destruction of the vehicle.Sri Lankan Army chief, Lieutenant General Sarath Fonseka recently told media that LTTE is confined in to an area less than 40 square kilometres. He said that remaining area to be cleared is somewhat less than the Thoppigala Jungle where Army had fought its last battle before liberating the whole Eastern province.