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CNN Live At Daybreak

U.S. Contractor Killed in Balad, Second One Hurt

Aired November 14, 2003 - 06:30   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: News of an American civilian contractor being killed north of Baghdad this morning; that comes amidst the U.S. military's Operation Iron Hammer.
Let's head live to Baghdad now and Alphonso Van Marsh.

Can you tell us more about this civilian death -- Alphonso?

ALPHONSO VAN MARSH, CNN CORRESPONDENT: Well, Carol, this news is coming to us today based on an attack that actually took place yesterday. As you mentioned, a U.S. civilian contractor was killed and a second one injured as their convoy was traveling in Balad. That's outside the capital.

Now, this news comes to us as the U.S. military is taking a daytime assessment of its nighttime raids, as you mentioned, of Operation Iron Hammer. Operation Iron Hammer is a series of air and ground attacks -- excuse me -- led by the U.S. 1st Armored Division against attacks -- against targets outside of Baghdad.

Now, you can tell by these pictures here that heavy weaponry was used -- cannon and gunfire.

Now, these series of raids marks a strategic change in U.S. military strategy in Iraq, going on the offensive in light of increasing attacks on U.S. and other military forces.

Now, as I mentioned, these images are just very powerful. Cannon and gunfire used to basically destroy buildings that the U.S. military says were being used by enemy or opposition fighters. The U.S. military says that these opposition fighters are relatively small in number, only about 5,000 people, but they are well organized.

The U.S. staff sergeant on the ground described one of Operation Iron Hammer's targets.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

STAFF SGT. GUILLON, U.S. ARMY: This building here is a former Republican Guard compound, and our unit has been taking fire from this building for several days. And that's the reason why we called in that mission.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

VAN MARSH: Now, the U.S. military says that that Republican Guard building was actually used by opposition or enemy fighters to launch small-arms and rocket attacks against U.S. forces.

Now, this assessment comes on the second night of raids. CNN's staff were allowed to ride in a military helicopter over the nighttime skies of Baghdad as Operation Iron Hammer was carried out. During the first night, targets were hit in west and south of Baghdad. During the second night, U.S. forces also targeted suspected mortar and rocket launch sites, we're told, in western Baghdad and east of the capital -- Carol.

COSTELLO: Alphonso Van Marsh reporting 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 November 14, 2003 - 06:30   ET
THIS IS A RUSH TRANSCRIPT. THIS COPY MAY NOT BE IN ITS FINAL FORM AND MAY BE UPDATED.
CAROL COSTELLO, CNN ANCHOR: News of an American civilian contractor being killed north of Baghdad this morning; that comes amidst the U.S. military's Operation Iron Hammer.
Let's head live to Baghdad now and Alphonso Van Marsh.

Can you tell us more about this civilian death -- Alphonso?

ALPHONSO VAN MARSH, CNN CORRESPONDENT: Well, Carol, this news is coming to us today based on an attack that actually took place yesterday. As you mentioned, a U.S. civilian contractor was killed and a second one injured as their convoy was traveling in Balad. That's outside the capital.

Now, this news comes to us as the U.S. military is taking a daytime assessment of its nighttime raids, as you mentioned, of Operation Iron Hammer. Operation Iron Hammer is a series of air and ground attacks -- excuse me -- led by the U.S. 1st Armored Division against attacks -- against targets outside of Baghdad.

Now, you can tell by these pictures here that heavy weaponry was used -- cannon and gunfire.

Now, these series of raids marks a strategic change in U.S. military strategy in Iraq, going on the offensive in light of increasing attacks on U.S. and other military forces.

Now, as I mentioned, these images are just very powerful. Cannon and gunfire used to basically destroy buildings that the U.S. military says were being used by enemy or opposition fighters. The U.S. military says that these opposition fighters are relatively small in number, only about 5,000 people, but they are well organized.

The U.S. staff sergeant on the ground described one of Operation Iron Hammer's targets.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

STAFF SGT. GUILLON, U.S. ARMY: This building here is a former Republican Guard compound, and our unit has been taking fire from this building for several days. And that's the reason why we called in that mission.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

VAN MARSH: Now, the U.S. military says that that Republican Guard building was actually used by opposition or enemy fighters to launch small-arms and rocket attacks against U.S. forces.

Now, this assessment comes on the second night of raids. CNN's staff were allowed to ride in a military helicopter over the nighttime skies of Baghdad as Operation Iron Hammer was carried out. During the first night, targets were hit in west and south of Baghdad. During the second night, U.S. forces also targeted suspected mortar and rocket launch sites, we're told, in western Baghdad and east of the capital -- Carol.

COSTELLO: Alphonso Van Marsh reporting 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.