How the Sri Lankan Army Defeated Terrorism and the Quiet Role of Israel

Reading Time: 3 minutes The Sri Lankan military campaign against the Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam (LTTE), culminating in the group’s defeat in May 2009, remains one of the most comprehensive counterinsurgency victories of the 21st century. The Sri Lankan Army (SLA), operating in complex terrain against a well-armed, deeply entrenched insurgency with significant international support networks, achieved what many analysts had deemed impossible: the total military dismantling of a quasi-state actor. While much of the credit belongs to the restructuring, political will, and battlefield tenacity of Sri Lankan forces, external support including a largely discreet contribution from Israel played a meaningful role in shaping the outcome. Sri Lanka’s Strategic Shift: From Stalemate to Total Victory Until 2006, the Sri Lankan military faced a war of attrition with the LTTE, marked by ceasefires, failed peace talks, and high casualties. However, the entry of President Mahinda Rajapaksa marked a strategic pivot.