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Capture of Key Airfield in Baghdad

Aired April 08, 2003 - 12:06   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 swept into the southeastern part of Baghdad earlier today as coalition forces tightened their grip on the Iraqi capital. CNN's Martin Savidge is with the 1st Battalion 7th Marines. He has more now on the march into Baghdad and the capture of a key airfield -- Marty.
MARTIN SAVIDGE, CNN ANCHOR: Well, Wolf, the approach of the U.S. Marines entering into Baghdad from the southeast may not be as visually spectacular as it has been with the U.S. Army pushing in from the west. But the gains that they have made have been every bit as significant, and the objectives that they have reached are every bit as crucial.

They have gained a significant amount of territory that is now under Marine influence. And the latest objective that was reached was reached by follow-on or lead elements of the U.S. Marines, grabbing the Rasheed Airbase. That is an Iraqi airbase located to the east of Baghdad.

The significance of course now is that U.S. and coalition forces hold two air force bases. One of them being the Saddam -- or Baghdad International Airport, as it's known now in the west, and then you have the Rasheed Airport now on the east side of time. Part of the squeezing effect going on as they encircle and close in on the center of Baghdad.

The 1st Battalion 7th Marines, who we are embedded with, pushed into the outskirts of Baghdad today. Formally coming into the city limits. The moment they came across a canal that came under attack sporadic fire struck at them.

They fired back, were able to drive off or eradicate whatever forces were opposing them. And then, in a forest of palm trees they made a very interesting find. Lots and lots of Iraqi artillery. Anti-aircraft artillery, as well as straight artillery, and a ton of ammunition.

Now this was discovered on the fly. And they have other objectives that they had to reach. So the Marines quickly went about doing some sort of field demolition, primarily using hand grenades and (UNINTELLIGIBLE) grenades, which are a very hot burning explosive. And this effectively takes care of any sort of weaponry by making it unusable. And that was the whole purpose of the exercise, was to make sure that no one else could use that artillery against the U.S. Marines as they continue to drive forward.

It was quite a thing to watch as the Marines dropped the hand grenades then run like heck to get away. And then you have the explosion, plus the secondary explosion of all the ammunition.

After that, a lot of other objectives. Inside an industrial park it was a sprawling mass area they had to go into warehouse by warehouse. There again they did receive fire from Iraqi forces. They were able to hold that off and search sensitive sites where there may be facilities that are being used for weapons of mass destruction purposes. That is being investigated at this point.

And the last discovery, a Republican Guard position that had tons and tons -- well that's being a little over the top, but lots and lots of chemical warfare suits. Full rubber suits, the boots, the gloves, the masks, and also atropine, which is an agent you would use if you were exposed to any sort of nerve agent as a sort of medicine to treat that. So an indication Iraqi forces were prepared for chemical warfare -- Wolf.

BLITZER: Marty, we know the U.S. Army has secured that international airport on the southwestern side of the city. This Rasheed Airbase on the southeastern side, what do the Marines plan on doing with it?

SAVIDGE: It's not quite clear exactly what they plan to do with it yet. There will have to be some improvements, some cleaning up that has to be done due to the way that that was actually taken. We understand that there were some cluster bombs that were dropped on that.

That type of ordnance was meant to prevent anyone else from using that airfield or holding people in place before the Marines actually seize the objective. So that would require some demolition experts clearing it out. Whether it will be used as an air facility is unknown at this particular point -- Wolf.

BLITZER: Marty Savidge with the Marines just outside Baghdad covering the story for us. Marty, thanks very much.






Aired April 8, 2003 - 12:06   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 swept into the southeastern part of Baghdad earlier today as coalition forces tightened their grip on the Iraqi capital. CNN's Martin Savidge is with the 1st Battalion 7th Marines. He has more now on the march into Baghdad and the capture of a key airfield -- Marty.
MARTIN SAVIDGE, CNN ANCHOR: Well, Wolf, the approach of the U.S. Marines entering into Baghdad from the southeast may not be as visually spectacular as it has been with the U.S. Army pushing in from the west. But the gains that they have made have been every bit as significant, and the objectives that they have reached are every bit as crucial.

They have gained a significant amount of territory that is now under Marine influence. And the latest objective that was reached was reached by follow-on or lead elements of the U.S. Marines, grabbing the Rasheed Airbase. That is an Iraqi airbase located to the east of Baghdad.

The significance of course now is that U.S. and coalition forces hold two air force bases. One of them being the Saddam -- or Baghdad International Airport, as it's known now in the west, and then you have the Rasheed Airport now on the east side of time. Part of the squeezing effect going on as they encircle and close in on the center of Baghdad.

The 1st Battalion 7th Marines, who we are embedded with, pushed into the outskirts of Baghdad today. Formally coming into the city limits. The moment they came across a canal that came under attack sporadic fire struck at them.

They fired back, were able to drive off or eradicate whatever forces were opposing them. And then, in a forest of palm trees they made a very interesting find. Lots and lots of Iraqi artillery. Anti-aircraft artillery, as well as straight artillery, and a ton of ammunition.

Now this was discovered on the fly. And they have other objectives that they had to reach. So the Marines quickly went about doing some sort of field demolition, primarily using hand grenades and (UNINTELLIGIBLE) grenades, which are a very hot burning explosive. And this effectively takes care of any sort of weaponry by making it unusable. And that was the whole purpose of the exercise, was to make sure that no one else could use that artillery against the U.S. Marines as they continue to drive forward.

It was quite a thing to watch as the Marines dropped the hand grenades then run like heck to get away. And then you have the explosion, plus the secondary explosion of all the ammunition.

After that, a lot of other objectives. Inside an industrial park it was a sprawling mass area they had to go into warehouse by warehouse. There again they did receive fire from Iraqi forces. They were able to hold that off and search sensitive sites where there may be facilities that are being used for weapons of mass destruction purposes. That is being investigated at this point.

And the last discovery, a Republican Guard position that had tons and tons -- well that's being a little over the top, but lots and lots of chemical warfare suits. Full rubber suits, the boots, the gloves, the masks, and also atropine, which is an agent you would use if you were exposed to any sort of nerve agent as a sort of medicine to treat that. So an indication Iraqi forces were prepared for chemical warfare -- Wolf.

BLITZER: Marty, we know the U.S. Army has secured that international airport on the southwestern side of the city. This Rasheed Airbase on the southeastern side, what do the Marines plan on doing with it?

SAVIDGE: It's not quite clear exactly what they plan to do with it yet. There will have to be some improvements, some cleaning up that has to be done due to the way that that was actually taken. We understand that there were some cluster bombs that were dropped on that.

That type of ordnance was meant to prevent anyone else from using that airfield or holding people in place before the Marines actually seize the objective. So that would require some demolition experts clearing it out. Whether it will be used as an air facility is unknown at this particular point -- Wolf.

BLITZER: Marty Savidge with the Marines just outside Baghdad covering the story for us. Marty, thanks very much.