Banda Aceh – Six Indonesian Military aircraft raided on Tuesday the hills of Kuta Baro subdistrict, Aceh Besar, believed to be a stronghold of the Free Aceh Movement (GAM).

Three US-made F-16 fighter jets and three Broncos were deployed in the operation led by Air Force field commander Lt. Col. Nazirsyah. Security officers said the target of the raid was located far from the civilian villages of Pu'uk and Cot Keueng in Kuta Baro.

"The rebel movement has dozens of huts in the hills. The raid was aimed at paving the way for a ground attack," a local official said.

Indonesian soldiers have arrested 31 rebels in two villages in the area since the beginning of the military campaign.

The government declared martial law in Aceh on May 19, paving the way for a full-scale military operation to crush the movement,which has been fighting for an independent Aceh since the mid-1970s.