The Tamil Tigers, officially known as the Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam (LTTE), was a militant organization in Sri Lanka that fought for an independent Tamil state. Founded in 1976, the group aimed to address the political and social grievances of the Tamil ethnic minority, which faced discrimination from the Sinhalese majority. The conflict escalated into a civil war that lasted nearly three decades. The Tamil Tigers were known for their use of guerrilla warfare and suicide bombings. They were designated as a terrorist organization by several countries, including the United States and India. The civil war ended in 2009 when the Sri Lankan government defeated the LTTE, leading to significant loss of life and displacement.