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Iraqi Artillery, Mortar Fire Strikes Marine APC
Aired April 07, 2003 - 12:05 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.
WOLF BLITZER, CNN ANCHOR: U.S. Marines came under fire today as they moved from the east into Baghdad. Within the past hour alone, the Marines destroyed a bridge over a canal near the Tigris River that was damaged in heavy fighting. The bridge is on the southeastern outskirts of Baghdad. CNN's Martin Savidge is embedded with the 1st Battalion of the 7th Marines. He has more now on the advance toward the Iraqi capital.
(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)
MARTIN SAVIDGE, CNN ANCHOR: At about the same time that the U.S. Army units were making their way into Baghdad today, the U.S. Marines were pushing into Baghdad from the other direction, from the east. Lead elements have now begun pressing into the southeastern suburbs and continue to be on the move. However, there has been a price that has been paid.
Among the first units pushing forward was the 3rd Battalion 4th Marines. As they were getting ready to cross over a bridgehead at a canal crossing, they came under Iraqi artillery fire. Originally when this was reported, there might have been some confusion as to whether this was friendly fire or Iraqi artillery.
Now the head of the Marine division confirms to CNN that it was Iraqi artillery and mortar fire that struck an armored personnel carrier which Marines were riding, and that there have been at least two fatalities. We don't know if there were any injuries beyond that. Still, despite suffering that setback, the 3-4th has moved across...
(END VIDEOTAPE)
BLITZER: We're going to interrupt Marty Savidge's report to go live to Baghdad, where explosions are being heard and seen and felt right now. You're looking at Abu Dhabi television. These are live pictures from the Iraqi capital.
We're not sure what those explosions are. They could be additional U.S. bombs, they could be missiles, they could be artillery. Whether Iraqi artillery or U.S. artillery, both sides, ground forces, whether U.S. soldiers or Marines or Iraqi soldiers are close.
They're clearly within very close proximity of each other. There could be heavy artillery fighting. But once again, you are looking at these live pictures that we're getting right now from Baghdad. As you know, there earlier in the day have been extensive U.S. military probes, armored raids right into the Iraqi capital. We don't know if the U.S. is going to establish permanent positions, or if these are temporary decisions to go in and then eventually go back out.
Initial word is the U.S. may simply decide to stay inside certain locations, symbolic locations inside the Iraqi capital to send a message to the Iraqi people, the Iraqi leadership, the Iraqi military personnel that the U.S. now is in charge, having virtually encircled the Iraqi capital, in charge of the main roads in and out of Baghdad, as well as Baghdad International Airport, where the U.S. is establishing a command position on the scene. That's only about 10 or 12 miles from Baghdad.
So we'll continue to show you these pictures from Baghdad. We'll continue to watch what's going on on the streets in Baghdad, as well as the skies over the Iraqi capital.
Aired April 7, 2003 - 12:05 ET
THIS IS A RUSH TRANSCRIPT. THIS COPY MAY NOT BE IN ITS FINAL FORM AND MAY BE UPDATED.
WOLF BLITZER, CNN ANCHOR: U.S. Marines came under fire today as they moved from the east into Baghdad. Within the past hour alone, the Marines destroyed a bridge over a canal near the Tigris River that was damaged in heavy fighting. The bridge is on the southeastern outskirts of Baghdad. CNN's Martin Savidge is embedded with the 1st Battalion of the 7th Marines. He has more now on the advance toward the Iraqi capital.
(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)
MARTIN SAVIDGE, CNN ANCHOR: At about the same time that the U.S. Army units were making their way into Baghdad today, the U.S. Marines were pushing into Baghdad from the other direction, from the east. Lead elements have now begun pressing into the southeastern suburbs and continue to be on the move. However, there has been a price that has been paid.
Among the first units pushing forward was the 3rd Battalion 4th Marines. As they were getting ready to cross over a bridgehead at a canal crossing, they came under Iraqi artillery fire. Originally when this was reported, there might have been some confusion as to whether this was friendly fire or Iraqi artillery.
Now the head of the Marine division confirms to CNN that it was Iraqi artillery and mortar fire that struck an armored personnel carrier which Marines were riding, and that there have been at least two fatalities. We don't know if there were any injuries beyond that. Still, despite suffering that setback, the 3-4th has moved across...
(END VIDEOTAPE)
BLITZER: We're going to interrupt Marty Savidge's report to go live to Baghdad, where explosions are being heard and seen and felt right now. You're looking at Abu Dhabi television. These are live pictures from the Iraqi capital.
We're not sure what those explosions are. They could be additional U.S. bombs, they could be missiles, they could be artillery. Whether Iraqi artillery or U.S. artillery, both sides, ground forces, whether U.S. soldiers or Marines or Iraqi soldiers are close.
They're clearly within very close proximity of each other. There could be heavy artillery fighting. But once again, you are looking at these live pictures that we're getting right now from Baghdad. As you know, there earlier in the day have been extensive U.S. military probes, armored raids right into the Iraqi capital. We don't know if the U.S. is going to establish permanent positions, or if these are temporary decisions to go in and then eventually go back out.
Initial word is the U.S. may simply decide to stay inside certain locations, symbolic locations inside the Iraqi capital to send a message to the Iraqi people, the Iraqi leadership, the Iraqi military personnel that the U.S. now is in charge, having virtually encircled the Iraqi capital, in charge of the main roads in and out of Baghdad, as well as Baghdad International Airport, where the U.S. is establishing a command position on the scene. That's only about 10 or 12 miles from Baghdad.
So we'll continue to show you these pictures from Baghdad. We'll continue to watch what's going on on the streets in Baghdad, as well as the skies over the Iraqi capital.
