Return to Transcripts main page
Live From...
U.S. Military Battle Syrian Border Guards During Hunt for Saddam
Aired June 23, 2003 - 14:21 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: New information now in the U.S. attack on the Iraqi convoy trying to escape into Syria last week. CNN has learned that U.S. Special Forces fought with Syrian border guards during an intense firefight.
Pentagon correspondent Barbara Starr has the latest for us now.
Hi -- Barbara.
BARBARA STARR, CNN PENTAGON CORRESPONDENT: Hi, Kyra.
Well, details still coming to light on this convoy raid last Wednesday. This unfolded because the U.S. had what it thought was excellent intelligence that there was a convoy moving in western Iraq near the Syrian border, a convoy that could contain top Iraqi leaders, though no specific intelligence at the time that Saddam Hussein or his two sons were in that convoy.
So, they began tracking the convoy, and as it moved out of a compound, U.S. forces moved in from the air. There were attacks, we were told, by AC-130 gunships, by attack helicopters, six or seven vehicles in that convoy.
Now, at some point either one of the vehicles or someone from the convoy began to try and escape and run towards the Syrian border. At that point -- we're not certain exactly when -- somehow a firefight ensued between the Syrians and the U.S. forces. We're not being told exactly what side of the border that firefight occurred on. U.S. officials say they may still be trying to figure that out exactly.
A number of Syrian border guards were wounded, five taken by the U.S., several of them continuing to receive medical treatment. We are told the U.S. is trying to make arrangements now to return those people to their country.
Now, the intelligence was very good, we are told, because it came to the U.S. after the recent capture of a man named General Mahmud. You'll remember, he is one of Saddam Hussein's top closest confidants. He is often seen in pictures at Saddam Hussein's right hand, standing behind him as close as to Saddam as his sons. It wasn't from interrogation of General Mahmud, we are told, but rather some sort of intelligence that was gathered when he was taken into custody.
And U.S. officials tell us they kept this raid extremely secret, extremely closely-held for the last several days at the very top circles of the Bush administration, because they believed that intelligence is so good it could lead them to additional targets in the days ahead -- Kyra.
PHILLIPS: All right, Barbara Starr at the Pentagon, 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.
Saddam>
Aired June 23, 2003 - 14:21 ET
THIS IS A RUSH TRANSCRIPT. THIS COPY MAY NOT BE IN ITS FINAL FORM AND MAY BE UPDATED.
KYRA PHILLIPS, CNN ANCHOR: New information now in the U.S. attack on the Iraqi convoy trying to escape into Syria last week. CNN has learned that U.S. Special Forces fought with Syrian border guards during an intense firefight.
Pentagon correspondent Barbara Starr has the latest for us now.
Hi -- Barbara.
BARBARA STARR, CNN PENTAGON CORRESPONDENT: Hi, Kyra.
Well, details still coming to light on this convoy raid last Wednesday. This unfolded because the U.S. had what it thought was excellent intelligence that there was a convoy moving in western Iraq near the Syrian border, a convoy that could contain top Iraqi leaders, though no specific intelligence at the time that Saddam Hussein or his two sons were in that convoy.
So, they began tracking the convoy, and as it moved out of a compound, U.S. forces moved in from the air. There were attacks, we were told, by AC-130 gunships, by attack helicopters, six or seven vehicles in that convoy.
Now, at some point either one of the vehicles or someone from the convoy began to try and escape and run towards the Syrian border. At that point -- we're not certain exactly when -- somehow a firefight ensued between the Syrians and the U.S. forces. We're not being told exactly what side of the border that firefight occurred on. U.S. officials say they may still be trying to figure that out exactly.
A number of Syrian border guards were wounded, five taken by the U.S., several of them continuing to receive medical treatment. We are told the U.S. is trying to make arrangements now to return those people to their country.
Now, the intelligence was very good, we are told, because it came to the U.S. after the recent capture of a man named General Mahmud. You'll remember, he is one of Saddam Hussein's top closest confidants. He is often seen in pictures at Saddam Hussein's right hand, standing behind him as close as to Saddam as his sons. It wasn't from interrogation of General Mahmud, we are told, but rather some sort of intelligence that was gathered when he was taken into custody.
And U.S. officials tell us they kept this raid extremely secret, extremely closely-held for the last several days at the very top circles of the Bush administration, because they believed that intelligence is so good it could lead them to additional targets in the days ahead -- Kyra.
PHILLIPS: All right, Barbara Starr at the Pentagon, 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.
Saddam>
