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American Morning
Coalition Controls Roads to Baghdad
Aired April 06, 2003 - 09:00 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, ANCHOR: Bill Hemmer, back here live in Kuwait City. Straight away to the area around Baghdad and CNN's Walt Rodgers, who is now checking in.
First time we have talked today, based on the reports filed on tape earlier today. Walt's live now. What's happening there? Good evening.
WALT RODGERS, CNN CORRESPONDENT: Hello, Bill, good news for the United States and the coalition. Army sources have just told CNN that the Iraqi capital, Baghdad, is completely encircled. U.S. forces, that's the Army and Marines, control all roads into and out of Baghdad. One senior officer told us if you want to stay alive, you better stay inside the city.
So Baghdad is now completely encircled. We do know that there was another Army foray into the city throughout the hours just a few, a short while ago. Second Brigade, 3rd Infantry Division, did a repeat tour of the inside of Baghdad, again pushing inside the city, flexing the U.S. Army's muscle.
Again, very little action. They went into the city, came out again.
Seventh Cavalry, the unit with which I'm embedded just southwest of the city, has been under considerable fire throughout last evening and today. The Iraqis are firing anti-tank missiles at the U.S. Army vehicles. There have been no hits, but again, very serious fire against the 7th Cavalry.
In point of fact, what we have been hearing is explosions intermittently throughout the day and heavy fighting again last night. Again, no 7th Cavalry casualties in all of this.
But what's been happening and this is very interesting, is some of the Iraqi civilians are beginning to step forward and collaborate with the U.S. Army. For example, the Army interpreters and the intelligence officers are talking with some of the Iraqi civilians in the roads along the way, and they are now telling the Army where the Fedayeen, that is, Saddam Hussein's most fanatic fighters, are hiding.
And what they're saying is the Army has been told that the Fedayeen, Saddam's most militant, fanatic fighters, hide in schools during the day and then come out and conduct guerilla attacks, these hit and run attacks on the 7th Cavalry at night after dark.
But again, the Fedayeen are, according to local Iraqi civilians, taking refuge in schools during the day and then coming out and trying to strike the 7th Cavalry at night -- Bill.
HEMMER: Walt, you talk about surrounding and sealing off Baghdad. That has to be a huge task, based on the sheer size of that city. Have they talked about how many entrances, how many roads, how many highways might be affected right now?
RODGERS: They have a list of the highways, they rattled off the names and numbers of each of those highways. But again, according to a high ranking senior officer with the U.S. Army here, attached in this area, we were told that all roads into and out of Baghdad are now controlled by the U.S. Marines, who have moved into positions, as well as the United States Army. The Army, of course, being the first here.
All those roads in and out have been sealed. And as I say, one officer said if you want to stay alive, stay off those roads now -- Bill.
HEMMER: Walt, thanks, Walt Rodgers again near Baghdad. We'll check in with Walt a bit later this hour and throughout the day here on this Sunday.
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 April 6, 2003 - 09:00 ET
THIS IS A RUSH TRANSCRIPT. THIS COPY MAY NOT BE IN ITS FINAL FORM AND MAY BE UPDATED.
BILL HEMMER, ANCHOR: Bill Hemmer, back here live in Kuwait City. Straight away to the area around Baghdad and CNN's Walt Rodgers, who is now checking in.
First time we have talked today, based on the reports filed on tape earlier today. Walt's live now. What's happening there? Good evening.
WALT RODGERS, CNN CORRESPONDENT: Hello, Bill, good news for the United States and the coalition. Army sources have just told CNN that the Iraqi capital, Baghdad, is completely encircled. U.S. forces, that's the Army and Marines, control all roads into and out of Baghdad. One senior officer told us if you want to stay alive, you better stay inside the city.
So Baghdad is now completely encircled. We do know that there was another Army foray into the city throughout the hours just a few, a short while ago. Second Brigade, 3rd Infantry Division, did a repeat tour of the inside of Baghdad, again pushing inside the city, flexing the U.S. Army's muscle.
Again, very little action. They went into the city, came out again.
Seventh Cavalry, the unit with which I'm embedded just southwest of the city, has been under considerable fire throughout last evening and today. The Iraqis are firing anti-tank missiles at the U.S. Army vehicles. There have been no hits, but again, very serious fire against the 7th Cavalry.
In point of fact, what we have been hearing is explosions intermittently throughout the day and heavy fighting again last night. Again, no 7th Cavalry casualties in all of this.
But what's been happening and this is very interesting, is some of the Iraqi civilians are beginning to step forward and collaborate with the U.S. Army. For example, the Army interpreters and the intelligence officers are talking with some of the Iraqi civilians in the roads along the way, and they are now telling the Army where the Fedayeen, that is, Saddam Hussein's most fanatic fighters, are hiding.
And what they're saying is the Army has been told that the Fedayeen, Saddam's most militant, fanatic fighters, hide in schools during the day and then come out and conduct guerilla attacks, these hit and run attacks on the 7th Cavalry at night after dark.
But again, the Fedayeen are, according to local Iraqi civilians, taking refuge in schools during the day and then coming out and trying to strike the 7th Cavalry at night -- Bill.
HEMMER: Walt, you talk about surrounding and sealing off Baghdad. That has to be a huge task, based on the sheer size of that city. Have they talked about how many entrances, how many roads, how many highways might be affected right now?
RODGERS: They have a list of the highways, they rattled off the names and numbers of each of those highways. But again, according to a high ranking senior officer with the U.S. Army here, attached in this area, we were told that all roads into and out of Baghdad are now controlled by the U.S. Marines, who have moved into positions, as well as the United States Army. The Army, of course, being the first here.
All those roads in and out have been sealed. And as I say, one officer said if you want to stay alive, stay off those roads now -- Bill.
HEMMER: Walt, thanks, Walt Rodgers again near Baghdad. We'll check in with Walt a bit later this hour and throughout the day here on this Sunday.
TO ORDER A VIDEO OF THIS TRANSCRIPT, PLEASE CALL 800-CNN-NEWS OR USE OUR SECURE ONLINE ORDER FORM LOCATED AT www.fdch.com
