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Operation Eager Mace Faces Mission Dangers
Aired October 10, 2002 - 14:30 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.
KYRA PHILLIPS, CNN ANCHOR: U.S. Marines in Operation Eager Mace in Kuwait have faced unexpected dangers this week. Three Marines were injured in what the Pentagon is calling an accident with unexploded ordnance. Two other Marines -- one killed, another injured -- were attacked by assailants linked to al Qaeda.
CNN's Martin Savidge joins us now from Kuwait City with more on the operation -- Martin.
MARTIN SAVIDGE, CNN CORRESPONDENT: Well, Kyra, that accident involving the Marines took place at a training site, about 45 miles to the northwest of Kuwait City today. I'll get into that in just a minute.
I wanted to update you on the investigation that is ongoing as a part of Tuesday's attack on the U.S. Marines that occurred at Failaka Island. That was an island where U.S. Marines were training in urban exercises when, apparently, two men in a pickup truck began opening fire on the U.S. Marines. One Marine killed; another was wounded.
The two attackers were gunned down in a hail of return fire that came from the U.S. Marines.
The Kuwaitis have been rounding up literally about -- almost 200 people, bringing them in for questioning at this particular point. They also say they have about four suspects they believe are linked to that attack. The Pentagon thinks it is related to al Qaeda.
And there is a report now coming from a local newspaper, "al- Qabas." That's an independent newspaper that is saying that as a result of this massive investigation by the Kuwaiti government, the Kuwaitis believe they have -- or may have found indications of another possible attack in-the-making -- plans, diagrams -- apparently for some sort of assault, maybe on a multi-story structure.
The Pentagon is saying that they have, indeed, received reports from the Kuwaiti government warning that it's possible here in Kuwait that other U.S. facilities -- that could be military facilities, it could be diplomatic buildings, it could even be schools used by American students -- could be under surveillance, or could be possibly targeted for further terror attacks. That remains to be seen.
As to the Marines, they were practicing again today; this time, far away from the coast. And apparently, three Marines came in contact with what's described as an unexploded ordnance, maybe a mine. That unexploded ordnance went off, and one of those Marines was seriously injured. So, that's where things stand right now in Kuwait City -- Kyra.
PHILLIPS: So, what's the latest with Operation Eager Mace? Will it be halted? Will it continue?
SAVIDGE: No. Plans -- we have not officially been told that it is going to shut down. It did stop after Tuesday's attack. The Marines were taken back aboard to their ships. That was a security precaution.
However, we have not received any indication -- despite our questions -- that this operation is ending. It is scheduled to end around the 15th of this month actually. So, they say it is still in full course, despite the obvious tragedy that took place on Tuesday -- Kyra.
PHILLIPS: Martin Savidge from Kuwait City, thank you.
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 October 10, 2002 - 14:30 ET
THIS IS A RUSH TRANSCRIPT. THIS COPY MAY NOT BE IN ITS FINAL FORM AND MAY BE UPDATED.
KYRA PHILLIPS, CNN ANCHOR: U.S. Marines in Operation Eager Mace in Kuwait have faced unexpected dangers this week. Three Marines were injured in what the Pentagon is calling an accident with unexploded ordnance. Two other Marines -- one killed, another injured -- were attacked by assailants linked to al Qaeda.
CNN's Martin Savidge joins us now from Kuwait City with more on the operation -- Martin.
MARTIN SAVIDGE, CNN CORRESPONDENT: Well, Kyra, that accident involving the Marines took place at a training site, about 45 miles to the northwest of Kuwait City today. I'll get into that in just a minute.
I wanted to update you on the investigation that is ongoing as a part of Tuesday's attack on the U.S. Marines that occurred at Failaka Island. That was an island where U.S. Marines were training in urban exercises when, apparently, two men in a pickup truck began opening fire on the U.S. Marines. One Marine killed; another was wounded.
The two attackers were gunned down in a hail of return fire that came from the U.S. Marines.
The Kuwaitis have been rounding up literally about -- almost 200 people, bringing them in for questioning at this particular point. They also say they have about four suspects they believe are linked to that attack. The Pentagon thinks it is related to al Qaeda.
And there is a report now coming from a local newspaper, "al- Qabas." That's an independent newspaper that is saying that as a result of this massive investigation by the Kuwaiti government, the Kuwaitis believe they have -- or may have found indications of another possible attack in-the-making -- plans, diagrams -- apparently for some sort of assault, maybe on a multi-story structure.
The Pentagon is saying that they have, indeed, received reports from the Kuwaiti government warning that it's possible here in Kuwait that other U.S. facilities -- that could be military facilities, it could be diplomatic buildings, it could even be schools used by American students -- could be under surveillance, or could be possibly targeted for further terror attacks. That remains to be seen.
As to the Marines, they were practicing again today; this time, far away from the coast. And apparently, three Marines came in contact with what's described as an unexploded ordnance, maybe a mine. That unexploded ordnance went off, and one of those Marines was seriously injured. So, that's where things stand right now in Kuwait City -- Kyra.
PHILLIPS: So, what's the latest with Operation Eager Mace? Will it be halted? Will it continue?
SAVIDGE: No. Plans -- we have not officially been told that it is going to shut down. It did stop after Tuesday's attack. The Marines were taken back aboard to their ships. That was a security precaution.
However, we have not received any indication -- despite our questions -- that this operation is ending. It is scheduled to end around the 15th of this month actually. So, they say it is still in full course, despite the obvious tragedy that took place on Tuesday -- Kyra.
PHILLIPS: Martin Savidge from Kuwait City, thank you.
TO ORDER A VIDEO OF THIS TRANSCRIPT, PLEASE CALL 800-CNN-NEWS OR USE OUR SECURE ONLINE ORDER FORM LOCATED AT www.fdch.com.
