COLOMBO, March 14, 2007 (AFP) - Sri Lanka warplanes bombed suspected Tiger rebel camps on Wednesday, a day after top defence officials warned that the latest military campaign could last three years.

The military said supersonic jets staged sorties for the third day against suspected rebel positions in Thoppigala Jungle in the island's east.

"There are no immediate reports of casualties, but Tuesday's air strikes damaged Tiger vehicles and infrastructure," military spokesman Brigadier Prasad Samarasinghe told reporters.

He said the death toll in Monday's aerial attack had risen to ten, which included an eastern Tiger intelligence leader identified as Irakkian and a training instructor, adding that more than a dozen guerrillas were injured.

Sri Lankan troops backed by supersonic aircraft have stepped up their offensive against Tamil Tiger rebels in the island's restive northeast since April and have vowed to flush them out.

"Within the next two to three years we should be able to eliminate them (Tamil Tigers)," said a top defence source, who declined to be named.

He said the government would pursue a political solution alongside its military offensive as Sri Lanka's President Mahinda Rajapakse was keen to bring about an "honourable peace" to end decades of bloodshed.

The source said the security forces were on a strong footing to win the military campaign, but that a political solution must be pursued in tandem.

Security forces last week launched a fresh offensive to drive deeper into a Tiger stronghold known as the Thoppigala jungle, which stretches from Batticaloa district to neighbouring Ampara district in the island's northeast.

Samarasinghe said eight police commandos and two soldiers have died in the latest military drive, which also injured 32 troops. He put the rebel toll at 40 killed.

Charities operating in the region on Monday raised concerns for the safety of civilians in the troubled Batticaloa district where over 120,000 people have been displaced.

However, Samarasinghe put the refugee toll at 87,711 since July 2006.

There was no comment from the Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam (LTTE), which has been fighting for an independent homeland for the minority Tamils in a 35-year conflict that has claimed over 60,000 lives.

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