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CNN Live Today

'Operation Iron Grip'

Aired December 24, 2003 - 11:30   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.


FREDRICKA WHITFIELD, CNN ANCHOR: On to Iraq now, where weapons of war are shaking parts of Baghdad. The artillery and gunfire are part of a new U.S. offensive, targeting insurgents' hideouts.
We go to CNN's Karl Penhaul, who has latest on the attacks, the and counterattacks -- Karl.

KARL PENHAUL, CNN CORRESPONDENT: Certainly of those latest attacks, the most serious appears to have been that on a U.S. military convoy just outside the town of Samarra. That's about 35 miles north of Baghdad. That attack took place this morning, our time. And in that, two U.S. soldiers were killed outright, as a roadside bomb exploded under their Humvee. A third soldier, who was initially wounded, later died during treatment of his injuries.

The second, in what has been a violent day, was a suicide bomb in the northern Kurdish town of Irbil. In that, the suicide bomber attempted to walk into the Kurdish government interior ministry building. He detonated that bomb, killing himself and at least one civilian passerby. U.S. military authorities have said that numerous young students who were in the area at the time have also been injured in that attack. All this comes against the backdrop of the launch of a U.S. insurgency operation, dubbed Operation Iron Grip. That's focusing on Baghdad, and that's aimed at targeting Iraqi insurgents, their hideouts, and the possible areas where they may gather over the coming days of the Christmas period and launch strikes against coalition forces.

WHITFIELD: All right, Karl, thanks very much.

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 December 24, 2003 - 11:30   ET
THIS IS A RUSH TRANSCRIPT. THIS COPY MAY NOT BE IN ITS FINAL FORM AND MAY BE UPDATED.
FREDRICKA WHITFIELD, CNN ANCHOR: On to Iraq now, where weapons of war are shaking parts of Baghdad. The artillery and gunfire are part of a new U.S. offensive, targeting insurgents' hideouts.
We go to CNN's Karl Penhaul, who has latest on the attacks, the and counterattacks -- Karl.

KARL PENHAUL, CNN CORRESPONDENT: Certainly of those latest attacks, the most serious appears to have been that on a U.S. military convoy just outside the town of Samarra. That's about 35 miles north of Baghdad. That attack took place this morning, our time. And in that, two U.S. soldiers were killed outright, as a roadside bomb exploded under their Humvee. A third soldier, who was initially wounded, later died during treatment of his injuries.

The second, in what has been a violent day, was a suicide bomb in the northern Kurdish town of Irbil. In that, the suicide bomber attempted to walk into the Kurdish government interior ministry building. He detonated that bomb, killing himself and at least one civilian passerby. U.S. military authorities have said that numerous young students who were in the area at the time have also been injured in that attack. All this comes against the backdrop of the launch of a U.S. insurgency operation, dubbed Operation Iron Grip. That's focusing on Baghdad, and that's aimed at targeting Iraqi insurgents, their hideouts, and the possible areas where they may gather over the coming days of the Christmas period and launch strikes against coalition forces.

WHITFIELD: All right, Karl, thanks very much.

TO ORDER A VIDEO OF THIS TRANSCRIPT, PLEASE CALL 800-CNN-NEWS OR USE OUR SECURE ONLINE ORDER FORM LOCATED AT www.fdch.com