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CNN Live Today
Operation Ivy Cyclone II Underway
Aired November 17, 2003 - 10:03 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: On the ground in Iraq, the U.S. has launched a major assault against insurgents. A military source says the offensive is designed to let the Iraqis know that attacks on coalition forces will not be tolerated. Our senior international correspondent Walter Rodgers is in the Iraqi capital. He joins us now with the latest on this U.S. offensive. Walter, hello.
WALTER RODGERS, CNN SENIOR INTERNATIONAL CORRESPONDENT: Hello, Daryn. The U.S. forces from the 4th Infantry Division are said to be attacking with a vengeance and with furry, trying to find the hideouts of some of the Saddam Hussein loyalists in Tikrit. That is, of course, Saddam's old hometown. Saddam loyalists, paramilitary insurgents, if you will. Also some perhaps foreign fighters and what the Army generally calls extremists.
The objective of this attack, which began last night and is expected to continue for perhaps two more days, the objective is to destroy the Iraqi paramilitary's ability to disrupt the American operations here. That means stop them attacks U.S. forces so the success of this mission probably won't be known for a number of days and weeks.
If there are -- if there is, indeed, a reduction in attacks on U.S. forces, then this operation, Operation Ivy Cyclone II can be deemed a success, but it's simply too early to decide that. Tanks and helicopters were brought to bear, attacking the so-called hideouts of the Iraqis. Again, it's not known the degree of success they had at this point.
Some of the buildings hit were an old palace which had been abandoned in the Tikrit area. Also, four homes said to have belonged to Iraqis involved in shooting down an American helicopter November 7 -- Daryn.
KAGAN: Walter, visual question here, looks rather dark behind you. Usually we see at least a mosque or other parts of Baghdad lit up. What is going on?
STEWART: Well it's a good question and it tell you us more than a little about what is going on. A substantial amount of the power, the electricity in Baghdad itself, the Iraqi capital, was knocked out despite the presence U.S. forces here last night, just about 24 hours ago.
Four very large mortars could be falling around the city. One of them hit probably half a mile from where I'm standing now. One of the mortars is believed to have knocked out one of the power stations. So much of Baghdad is blacked out simply because the insurgents still work there are will on the city when they decide to attack -- Daryn.
KAGAN: Walter Rodgers in a darkened Baghdad at night. Thank you fir 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 17, 2003 - 10:03 ET
THIS IS A RUSH TRANSCRIPT. THIS COPY MAY NOT BE IN ITS FINAL FORM AND MAY BE UPDATED.
DARYN KAGAN, CNN ANCHOR: On the ground in Iraq, the U.S. has launched a major assault against insurgents. A military source says the offensive is designed to let the Iraqis know that attacks on coalition forces will not be tolerated. Our senior international correspondent Walter Rodgers is in the Iraqi capital. He joins us now with the latest on this U.S. offensive. Walter, hello.
WALTER RODGERS, CNN SENIOR INTERNATIONAL CORRESPONDENT: Hello, Daryn. The U.S. forces from the 4th Infantry Division are said to be attacking with a vengeance and with furry, trying to find the hideouts of some of the Saddam Hussein loyalists in Tikrit. That is, of course, Saddam's old hometown. Saddam loyalists, paramilitary insurgents, if you will. Also some perhaps foreign fighters and what the Army generally calls extremists.
The objective of this attack, which began last night and is expected to continue for perhaps two more days, the objective is to destroy the Iraqi paramilitary's ability to disrupt the American operations here. That means stop them attacks U.S. forces so the success of this mission probably won't be known for a number of days and weeks.
If there are -- if there is, indeed, a reduction in attacks on U.S. forces, then this operation, Operation Ivy Cyclone II can be deemed a success, but it's simply too early to decide that. Tanks and helicopters were brought to bear, attacking the so-called hideouts of the Iraqis. Again, it's not known the degree of success they had at this point.
Some of the buildings hit were an old palace which had been abandoned in the Tikrit area. Also, four homes said to have belonged to Iraqis involved in shooting down an American helicopter November 7 -- Daryn.
KAGAN: Walter, visual question here, looks rather dark behind you. Usually we see at least a mosque or other parts of Baghdad lit up. What is going on?
STEWART: Well it's a good question and it tell you us more than a little about what is going on. A substantial amount of the power, the electricity in Baghdad itself, the Iraqi capital, was knocked out despite the presence U.S. forces here last night, just about 24 hours ago.
Four very large mortars could be falling around the city. One of them hit probably half a mile from where I'm standing now. One of the mortars is believed to have knocked out one of the power stations. So much of Baghdad is blacked out simply because the insurgents still work there are will on the city when they decide to attack -- Daryn.
KAGAN: Walter Rodgers in a darkened Baghdad at night. Thank you fir 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
