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CNN Live Today

Operation Anaconda Nears Completion

Aired March 18, 2002 - 14:33   ET

THIS IS A RUSH TRANSCRIPT. THIS COPY MAY NOT BE IN ITS FINAL FORM AND MAY BE UPDATED.

THIS IS A RUSH TRANSCRIPT. THIS COPY MAY NOT BE IN ITS FINAL FORM AND MAY BE UPDATED.
BILL HEMMER, CNN ANCHOR: The biggest ground battle since the war on terrorism began in Afghanistan is now history. After nearly 2 1/2 weeks, the Pentagon says Operation Anaconda is over. Martin Savidge filed this report from Bagram, north of Kabul, in Afghanistan.

(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)

MARTIN SAVIDGE, CNN CORRESPONDENT (on camera): Day 17 and Operation Anaconda has come to an end. It will go down in the history books, at least to date, as the largest military operation in the war in Afghanistan. The cost, though, was 11 coalition lives: eight Americans, three Afghans, and over 70 soldiers were wounded, not to mention thousands of soldiers that rotated in and out of the lower Shah-e-Kot Valley.

In final hours, we were able to gather some really remarkable footage from a vantage point you perhaps have never seen before. It is the cockpit of an AH1H attack helicopter, otherwise known as a Cobra. This is a high-performance helicopter that's heavily armed, and was very vital in the ongoing military battle that took place in the higher elevation of the mountains, there.

You can see through the eyes of a pilot here, essentially, just overlooking the gunner. How the terrain whizzes by, how they bank and turn. And then eventually you'll see how the missiles are launched. They go very fast. You have to look carefully.

These missiles striking against al Qaeda caves and Taliban targets, mortar positions, just as they have done since the battle began. If you're a soldier on the ground, seeing one of these helicopters fly overhead is very reassuring.

As Operation Anaconda came to a close today, General Tommy Franks made the trip from the United States to be here in person to pin five bronze stars on the chests of soldiers who were involved in the very early days and the very heavy fighting of that military operation. These were medals for valor and for meritorious conduct. The general said he was extremely proud of not only these men, but all the men that participated in Anaconda.

He also pointed out that it was highly successful, but that other missions are being planned already. He has one specific target in mind right now. When asked what it was and when he would strike, he laughed and said he wasn't going to answer that. Martin Savidge, CNN, Bagram, Afghanistan.

(END VIDEOTAPE)

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