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CNN Live At Daybreak
U.S. Troops Attacked on Main Road to Baghdad Airport
Aired June 26, 2003 - 06:31 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: Americans under attack. A convoy on the road to the Baghdad airport is ambushed, whether by remote control or rocket-propelled grenades, we're still trying to get that information for you.
To Baghdad now and Jane Arraf.
Good morning -- Jane.
JANE ARRAF, CNN BAGHDAD BUREAU CHIEF: Good morning, Carol.
We've just come from the scene, and here is what we know. It was a device that appears to have been laid on the ground, such as a remote-controlled landmine. It exploded, injuring people in an electricity vehicle. Now, it's not clear whether the ambush was intended for that electricity vehicle or a U.S. patrol that may have been accompanying it.
Also not clear whether there were any serious or significant American casualties, but between one and three Iraqis were injured, possibly seriously.
Now, again, that ambush was on the main road to the airport, and that main road is one that's very heavily used by U.S. convoys. The airport has been taken over by the military.
And in another incident, U.S. Central Command says there was an ambush about 60 miles south of Baghdad on Wednesday. That was Marines who came under hostile fire. Three of them were wounded. But in calling in for reinforcements, a quick reaction force on the way there in a vehicle that rolled over, one Marine was killed and two others wounded in that accident.
Now, that area had been thought to be relatively safe. We now know that nowhere really is safe for U.S. and British forces here, or Iraqis for that matter -- Carol.
COSTELLO: Jane, it's interesting if that vehicle carrying electrical workers was targeted, I mean, that might mean, you know, some people are upset about not having electricity 24 hours a day. That might mean that someone wants to keep things stirred up in that sector of Iraq.
ARRAF: Absolutely. It's a huge issue here. And Paul Bremer, the chief U.S. administrator, had said just yesterday that it appears to have been sabotage that has led to these very serious electricity problems, sabotage in the main power lines to Baghdad. Now, electricity is one of the quickest ways to destabilize this country. It means people are in the dark at night. They're furious in the day. People are fuming, and angry people with guns are not a great combination. So, it's certainly a quick way to destabilize things -- Carol.
COSTELLO: I think you're right about that. Jane Arraf live from Baghdad this 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 June 26, 2003 - 06:31 ET
THIS IS A RUSH TRANSCRIPT. THIS COPY MAY NOT BE IN ITS FINAL FORM AND MAY BE UPDATED.
CAROL COSTELLO, CNN ANCHOR: Americans under attack. A convoy on the road to the Baghdad airport is ambushed, whether by remote control or rocket-propelled grenades, we're still trying to get that information for you.
To Baghdad now and Jane Arraf.
Good morning -- Jane.
JANE ARRAF, CNN BAGHDAD BUREAU CHIEF: Good morning, Carol.
We've just come from the scene, and here is what we know. It was a device that appears to have been laid on the ground, such as a remote-controlled landmine. It exploded, injuring people in an electricity vehicle. Now, it's not clear whether the ambush was intended for that electricity vehicle or a U.S. patrol that may have been accompanying it.
Also not clear whether there were any serious or significant American casualties, but between one and three Iraqis were injured, possibly seriously.
Now, again, that ambush was on the main road to the airport, and that main road is one that's very heavily used by U.S. convoys. The airport has been taken over by the military.
And in another incident, U.S. Central Command says there was an ambush about 60 miles south of Baghdad on Wednesday. That was Marines who came under hostile fire. Three of them were wounded. But in calling in for reinforcements, a quick reaction force on the way there in a vehicle that rolled over, one Marine was killed and two others wounded in that accident.
Now, that area had been thought to be relatively safe. We now know that nowhere really is safe for U.S. and British forces here, or Iraqis for that matter -- Carol.
COSTELLO: Jane, it's interesting if that vehicle carrying electrical workers was targeted, I mean, that might mean, you know, some people are upset about not having electricity 24 hours a day. That might mean that someone wants to keep things stirred up in that sector of Iraq.
ARRAF: Absolutely. It's a huge issue here. And Paul Bremer, the chief U.S. administrator, had said just yesterday that it appears to have been sabotage that has led to these very serious electricity problems, sabotage in the main power lines to Baghdad. Now, electricity is one of the quickest ways to destabilize this country. It means people are in the dark at night. They're furious in the day. People are fuming, and angry people with guns are not a great combination. So, it's certainly a quick way to destabilize things -- Carol.
COSTELLO: I think you're right about that. Jane Arraf live from Baghdad this 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.
