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CNN Live Today
U.S. Has Launched New Iron Hammer Strikes
Aired November 14, 2003 - 10:05 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.
DARYN KAGAN, CNN ANCHOR: To Iraq now, the unrelenting attacks from insurgents are bringing a decisive and deadly response from U.S. forces. Troops today launched raids on the ground and from the air, targeting guerrilla fighters. But despite the offensive, there were new attacks on U.S. soldiers and civilians.
Our Matthew Chance joins us now from Baghdad with the latest on the situation in the Iraq.
Matthew, hello.
MATTHEW CHANCE, CNN CORRESPONDENT: Thanks, Daryn.
And a tough new response by U.S. military officials to this mounting insurgency across areas of Iraq. Operation Iron Hammer has been going on for its third successive date. We have seen strikes against various military targets across the Iraqi capital of Baghdad, as well as helicopters flying in the skies day and night over Baghdad, to carry out reconnaissance missions to try to keep a tag on what militant activities there may be in the city.
Earlier, we joined one of those helicopter patrols of the Second Armored Cavalry Regiment, a Black Hawk helicopter, equipped with nightvision, on a reconnaissance patrol. The purpose of their mission in operation Iron Hammer to monitor the insurgents who have been carrying out the attacks. They are on the look-out for militants preparing to launch mortar attacks, or planting those roadside bombs that have been so deadly in recent weeks on the ground.
U.S. troops check, meanwhile, for explosives and firearms on the streets. The latest U.S. strikes hit a building, which U.S. officials say was a former building of the Republican Guard of Saddam Hussein, which is still being used, they say, by militants to carry out these attacks.
Commanders say this latest operation, Iron Hammer, is intended to show America's attackers that its forces will strike back and are watching what they're doing. The big risk, though, will it actually curb the activity of the militants or encourage them.
KAGAN: And, Matthew, in other news, the Italian defense minister came to tour the bombed-out compound where those Italian soldiers and police officers died earlier this week.
CHANCE: That's right. The biggest attack against coalition forces, certainly since major combat operations were declared at an end by President Bush on May 1st. It brings to more than 60 the number of people, the number of coalition troops have been killed since that date. Clearly, for coalition troops and for Iraqi civilians across Iraq, the country is still immensely dangerous.
KAGAN: Matthew Chance, in Baghdad, thank you for that.
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 - 10:05 ET
THIS IS A RUSH TRANSCRIPT. THIS COPY MAY NOT BE IN ITS FINAL FORM AND MAY BE UPDATED.
DARYN KAGAN, CNN ANCHOR: To Iraq now, the unrelenting attacks from insurgents are bringing a decisive and deadly response from U.S. forces. Troops today launched raids on the ground and from the air, targeting guerrilla fighters. But despite the offensive, there were new attacks on U.S. soldiers and civilians.
Our Matthew Chance joins us now from Baghdad with the latest on the situation in the Iraq.
Matthew, hello.
MATTHEW CHANCE, CNN CORRESPONDENT: Thanks, Daryn.
And a tough new response by U.S. military officials to this mounting insurgency across areas of Iraq. Operation Iron Hammer has been going on for its third successive date. We have seen strikes against various military targets across the Iraqi capital of Baghdad, as well as helicopters flying in the skies day and night over Baghdad, to carry out reconnaissance missions to try to keep a tag on what militant activities there may be in the city.
Earlier, we joined one of those helicopter patrols of the Second Armored Cavalry Regiment, a Black Hawk helicopter, equipped with nightvision, on a reconnaissance patrol. The purpose of their mission in operation Iron Hammer to monitor the insurgents who have been carrying out the attacks. They are on the look-out for militants preparing to launch mortar attacks, or planting those roadside bombs that have been so deadly in recent weeks on the ground.
U.S. troops check, meanwhile, for explosives and firearms on the streets. The latest U.S. strikes hit a building, which U.S. officials say was a former building of the Republican Guard of Saddam Hussein, which is still being used, they say, by militants to carry out these attacks.
Commanders say this latest operation, Iron Hammer, is intended to show America's attackers that its forces will strike back and are watching what they're doing. The big risk, though, will it actually curb the activity of the militants or encourage them.
KAGAN: And, Matthew, in other news, the Italian defense minister came to tour the bombed-out compound where those Italian soldiers and police officers died earlier this week.
CHANCE: That's right. The biggest attack against coalition forces, certainly since major combat operations were declared at an end by President Bush on May 1st. It brings to more than 60 the number of people, the number of coalition troops have been killed since that date. Clearly, for coalition troops and for Iraqi civilians across Iraq, the country is still immensely dangerous.
KAGAN: Matthew Chance, in Baghdad, thank you for that.
TO ORDER A VIDEO OF THIS TRANSCRIPT, PLEASE CALL 800-CNN-NEWS OR USE OUR SECURE ONLINE ORDER FORM LOCATED AT www.fdch.com
