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Iraqi Troops Continue to Launch RPGs From Building Continually Hit by Coalition Forces
Aired April 01, 2003 - 12:53 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.
WOLF BLITZER, CNN ANCHOR: One of our embedded correspondents, Art Harris, he's on the lines with the U.S. troops. We finally managed to establish connections with him. Art, tell us -- what you could tell us, actually, what's happening where you are?
ART HARRIS, CNN CORRESPONDENT: Wolf, I'm in Nasiriya with U.S. Marines where I watched them today. Continue to hammer away at Iraqi forces on the north bank of the Euphrates.
There seems to be one building there where Iraqis with RPGs keep climbing into, no matter how many bombs they drop on it, no matter how many Hellfire Missiles get fired at it, these guys keep scrambling up and trying to shoot back at the Marine.
And today the fire power was enormous, Wolf. They fired 25 millimeter cannons from light armored vehicles. They dropped 4,000 pound bombs on the building. And finally, there were no more snipers with RPGs -- Wolf.
BLITZER: But the overall situation in Nasiriya from your vantage point -- and I understand it could be limited -- is what? What kind of control, what kind of security do U.S. coalition forces have in that area?
HARRIS: Wolf, the security is improving a little every day. They continue to capture Ba'ath Party officials. Local are giving up routes that these people in paramilitary are taking. Some have surrendered. Others have been captured.
And it's very interesting because in one area along the river that keeps getting hammered by the Marines, you know, there are no people on the streets. Go four blocks further and you can actually see people on the streets milling about, carrying on their business. They're actually bathing in the Euphrates River or swimming on make shift beaches, perhaps 400 or 500 yards away from where a fire fight is happening.
So people go about their lives. At the same time Marines seem to feel as if they are making good progress, although it is methodical. They don't want anyone to slip behind them.
And there was a family even, Wolf, in the compound where the 3rd Battalion 2nd Marines was staying that had the experience a lot of terror under the Ba'ath Party. And this family, the father, who was a caretaker at school. The wife who was a teacher. He began to feel what sounded like the first bit of freedom, and began to tell the Marines where Ba'ath Party officials were staying in the neighborhood.
So Marines feel as if they are beginning to win the hearts and minds -- Wolf.
BLITZER: It sounds almost like a surreal situation in Nasiriya. Art Harris, be careful over there. We'll be getting back to you. Thanks for getting in touch with us.
TO ORDER A VIDEO OF THIS TRANSCRIPT, PLEASE CALL 800-CNN-NEWS OR USE OUR SECURE ONLINE ORDER FORM LOCATED AT www.fdch.com
Continually Hit by Coalition Forces>
Aired April 1, 2003 - 12:53 ET
THIS IS A RUSH TRANSCRIPT. THIS COPY MAY NOT BE IN ITS FINAL FORM AND MAY BE UPDATED.
WOLF BLITZER, CNN ANCHOR: One of our embedded correspondents, Art Harris, he's on the lines with the U.S. troops. We finally managed to establish connections with him. Art, tell us -- what you could tell us, actually, what's happening where you are?
ART HARRIS, CNN CORRESPONDENT: Wolf, I'm in Nasiriya with U.S. Marines where I watched them today. Continue to hammer away at Iraqi forces on the north bank of the Euphrates.
There seems to be one building there where Iraqis with RPGs keep climbing into, no matter how many bombs they drop on it, no matter how many Hellfire Missiles get fired at it, these guys keep scrambling up and trying to shoot back at the Marine.
And today the fire power was enormous, Wolf. They fired 25 millimeter cannons from light armored vehicles. They dropped 4,000 pound bombs on the building. And finally, there were no more snipers with RPGs -- Wolf.
BLITZER: But the overall situation in Nasiriya from your vantage point -- and I understand it could be limited -- is what? What kind of control, what kind of security do U.S. coalition forces have in that area?
HARRIS: Wolf, the security is improving a little every day. They continue to capture Ba'ath Party officials. Local are giving up routes that these people in paramilitary are taking. Some have surrendered. Others have been captured.
And it's very interesting because in one area along the river that keeps getting hammered by the Marines, you know, there are no people on the streets. Go four blocks further and you can actually see people on the streets milling about, carrying on their business. They're actually bathing in the Euphrates River or swimming on make shift beaches, perhaps 400 or 500 yards away from where a fire fight is happening.
So people go about their lives. At the same time Marines seem to feel as if they are making good progress, although it is methodical. They don't want anyone to slip behind them.
And there was a family even, Wolf, in the compound where the 3rd Battalion 2nd Marines was staying that had the experience a lot of terror under the Ba'ath Party. And this family, the father, who was a caretaker at school. The wife who was a teacher. He began to feel what sounded like the first bit of freedom, and began to tell the Marines where Ba'ath Party officials were staying in the neighborhood.
So Marines feel as if they are beginning to win the hearts and minds -- Wolf.
BLITZER: It sounds almost like a surreal situation in Nasiriya. Art Harris, be careful over there. We'll be getting back to you. Thanks for getting in touch with us.
TO ORDER A VIDEO OF THIS TRANSCRIPT, PLEASE CALL 800-CNN-NEWS OR USE OUR SECURE ONLINE ORDER FORM LOCATED AT www.fdch.com
Continually Hit by Coalition Forces>
