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CNN Live At Daybreak

Two U.S. Soldiers Seriously Wounded in Kuwait

Aired November 21, 2002 - 05:01   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.


CAROL COSTELLO, CNN ANCHOR: There is breaking news this morning out of Kuwait. Just a moment ago we got word that an unknown gunman has opened fire on a highway, seriously wounding two U.S. soldiers.
We head right now to Kuwait City and our Kevin Sites for the latest -- Kevin, what happened?

KEVIN SITES, CNN CORRESPONDENT: That's right, Carol, a U.S. military spokesman confirms that at 10:30 this morning, this is Thursday, two U.S. soldiers were shot by an unknown assailant. Now, one soldier was shot in the face, the other soldier was shot in the shoulder. At this point, neither of the wounds seems to be life threatening. Both of these soldiers were air lifted to the Kuwaiti military hospital here in Kuwait City.

Now, their condition is considered serious but stable at this point. They were traveling on a road somewhere between Camp Doha, that's the U.S. military camp out here, and Erevshan (ph), which is also an area within Kuwait.

Now, the shooting incident is under investigation both by Kuwaiti authorities as well as the U.S. Army Command Investigation. That's kind of the Army detectives in this nature.

Now, this has been certainly a disturbing incident this morning. This is the third such incident that has happened in the region. The first was an incident in which an actual Marine was shot and killed, another seriously wounded during some training exercises here, a second incident, where a gun was actually displayed at soldiers while they were driving along the road here in Kuwait, and this third incident today, where two soldiers, of course, have been, again, shot and wounded by an unknown assailant. To reiterate, one who was shot in the face, another who was shot in the shoulder. At this point authorities are telling us neither of the wounds are life threatening, but they are serious and they are in serious but stable condition -- Carol, back to you.

COSTELLO: And, Kevin, remind us again what U.S. soldiers are doing there. They're performing military exercises, right?

SITES: That's right, Carol. The Army has about 9,000 to 10,000 troops here right now and they're committed to some exercises called Operation Desert Spring. It's basically a speed bump out in the desert along the border with Iraq. They were doing some training exercises the other day, practicing, you know, maneuvers within the desert, refueling, actually shooting off their mobile howitzers. These are considered defensive exercises. However, the troops there and authorities say that they will be prepared in case they do go to war with Iraq, yes -- back to you.

COSTELLO: All right, Kevin Sites, thank you very much for the update.

We'll get back to you throughout the morning.

TO ORDER A VIDEO OF THIS TRANSCRIPT, PLEASE CALL 800-CNN-NEWS OR USE OUR SECURE ONLINE ORDER FORM LOCATED AT www.fdch.com






Aired November 21, 2002 - 05:01   ET
THIS IS A RUSH TRANSCRIPT. THIS COPY MAY NOT BE IN ITS FINAL FORM AND MAY BE UPDATED.
CAROL COSTELLO, CNN ANCHOR: There is breaking news this morning out of Kuwait. Just a moment ago we got word that an unknown gunman has opened fire on a highway, seriously wounding two U.S. soldiers.
We head right now to Kuwait City and our Kevin Sites for the latest -- Kevin, what happened?

KEVIN SITES, CNN CORRESPONDENT: That's right, Carol, a U.S. military spokesman confirms that at 10:30 this morning, this is Thursday, two U.S. soldiers were shot by an unknown assailant. Now, one soldier was shot in the face, the other soldier was shot in the shoulder. At this point, neither of the wounds seems to be life threatening. Both of these soldiers were air lifted to the Kuwaiti military hospital here in Kuwait City.

Now, their condition is considered serious but stable at this point. They were traveling on a road somewhere between Camp Doha, that's the U.S. military camp out here, and Erevshan (ph), which is also an area within Kuwait.

Now, the shooting incident is under investigation both by Kuwaiti authorities as well as the U.S. Army Command Investigation. That's kind of the Army detectives in this nature.

Now, this has been certainly a disturbing incident this morning. This is the third such incident that has happened in the region. The first was an incident in which an actual Marine was shot and killed, another seriously wounded during some training exercises here, a second incident, where a gun was actually displayed at soldiers while they were driving along the road here in Kuwait, and this third incident today, where two soldiers, of course, have been, again, shot and wounded by an unknown assailant. To reiterate, one who was shot in the face, another who was shot in the shoulder. At this point authorities are telling us neither of the wounds are life threatening, but they are serious and they are in serious but stable condition -- Carol, back to you.

COSTELLO: And, Kevin, remind us again what U.S. soldiers are doing there. They're performing military exercises, right?

SITES: That's right, Carol. The Army has about 9,000 to 10,000 troops here right now and they're committed to some exercises called Operation Desert Spring. It's basically a speed bump out in the desert along the border with Iraq. They were doing some training exercises the other day, practicing, you know, maneuvers within the desert, refueling, actually shooting off their mobile howitzers. These are considered defensive exercises. However, the troops there and authorities say that they will be prepared in case they do go to war with Iraq, yes -- back to you.

COSTELLO: All right, Kevin Sites, thank you very much for the update.

We'll get back to you throughout the morning.

TO ORDER A VIDEO OF THIS TRANSCRIPT, PLEASE CALL 800-CNN-NEWS OR USE OUR SECURE ONLINE ORDER FORM LOCATED AT www.fdch.com