COLOMBO , Sri Lanka ( CNN ) -- Sri Lankan soldiers have seized a key rebel stronghold after launching a surprise attack early Sunday morning , the head of Sri Lanka 's army announced . Sri Lankan army chief Sarath Fonseka says a key Tamil town has been taken in a national TV broadcast Sunday . Troops crossed a lagoon and entered the town of Mullaittivu before encountering heavy resistance from Tamil fighters , according to the government-run news agency . `` Our troops fought their way through a 40 km ( 25 mile ) thick jungle track , '' Lt. Gen. Sarath Fonseka said in a televised address on Sunday . `` This is the long awaited victory and I am happy to say that our heroic forces today captured the Mullaittivu town after 12 years , '' the Sri Lanka Army chief said . There is no confirmation from the rebels that the strategic garrison has been overtaken . The Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam ( LTTE ) -- commonly known as the Tamil Tigers -- have fought for an independent homeland for the country 's ethnic Tamil minority since 1983 . The civil war has left more than 70,000 people dead . The rebels gained control over Mullaittivu in 1996 and established a military garrison there , according to the government . In recent days , the military has made significant progress in its campaign to recapture rebel strongholds . Earlier this month , troops regained control of the northern town of Elephant Pass , the point at which mainland Sri Lanka links to the northern Jaffna peninsula . It had been in rebel hands for more than nine years . The re-capture enabled the government to use a highway linking the mainland to the peninsula to move troops and supplies . Previously , it was done by air and sea . `` The area that the LTTE has dominated has shrank phenomenally , '' Sri Lankan High Commissioner to India , C.R Jayasinghe , told CNN . `` They lost ... about 90 percent of what they had . '' Despite major government gains , critics point to ongoing civilian casualties resultant from the conflict . `` This is an important strategic success for the army , but literally tens of thousands of people , children , are in the line of fire , '' United Nations spokesman James Elder said in a phone conversation Sunday . `` Some Sri Lankan U.N. staff are trapped there , '' he added . `` Convoys are going to the area , delivering emergency supplies , but these are not sufficient for the number of people in need . '' Sri Lankan authorities are barring journalists and humanitarian aid workers from areas where heavy fighting is taking place . Amnesty International spokesman Shuransu Mishra estimated that `` over a quarter of a million of the population , mostly Tamils , are trapped between the two sides . '' The organization says greater access and protection for aid workers and journalists are needed as news agencies struggle to report an accurate picture of the conflict . `` The Sri Lankan authorities are doing little to ensure the safety of the country 's media , or to prosecute those responsible for murdering or attacking them , '' Amnesty International spokeswoman Yolanda Foster said in a written statement on Friday . `` They ( Sri Lankan authorities ) are also directly responsible for subjecting journalists to harassment and interrogation , '' she said . At least 14 journalists have been killed since the start of 2006 , according to the statement . Others have been driven from the country by death threats , or in fear of detention and torture by government authorities , it said .
Rebels gained control over Mullaittivu in 1996 , established a military garrison there . Military making significant progress to recapture rebel strongholds . Earlier this month troops regained control of key northern town of Elephant Pass . Tamils want independent homeland , war since 1983 has left more than 65,000 dead .