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Iron Hammer Strikes New Blows
Aired November 14, 2003 - 13:00 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.
MILES O'BRIEN, CNN ANCHOR: Yesterday's attacks took out, among other things, a former Republican Guard building in Baghdad, and a makeshift rocket complex near Tikrit. At the same time, insurgents killed two more soldiers and a U.S. civilian contractor.
We get the latest from CNN's Alfonso Van Marsh, joining us live from Baghdad -- Alfonso.
ALFONSO VAN MARSH, CNN CORRESPONDENT: Hi, Miles.
I'll tell you about Iron Hammer in just a moment. First, I want to give you the very latest information from Task Force Iron Horse north of Baghdad. As you mentioned, we understand that two U.S. military members have died and three U.S. service members were also injured when their convoy hit a roadside bomb north of Baghdad.
Let me tell you a little bit more about Operation Iron Hammer now. Just a few hours ago, about five hours ago, a third night of consecutive strikes against what the U.S. calls enemies, or operators that are trying to hit U.S. soldier, other coalition forces.
Last night, we had a chance to go out with some of those U.S. troops as they went over the skies of Baghdad, trying to find targets, targets they say, that are being used by a small number, about 5,000 fighters, to target U.S. forces and other coalition forces.
But this marks a strategic change in U.S. strategy in Iraq, going on the offensive, in the wake of the rise of attacks against U.S. and other coalition forces.
Now following last night's strikes, we were able to get a chance to see some of the aftermath. As you mentioned, they hit a Republican Guard building. The U.S. military says that these enemies or opposition fighters used that building to launch mortar and small arms attack against U.S. forces. Now it seems this is all happening rather quickly and it is, three days straight in a row, going after alleged enemies, opposition fighters from the United States and other coalition forces, But the United States says it has reason; since the beginning of November, some 60 U.S. service members have died -- Miles.
O'BRIEN: Alfonso Van Marsh in Baghdad, thanks very much.
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 November 14, 2003 - 13:00 ET
THIS IS A RUSH TRANSCRIPT. THIS COPY MAY NOT BE IN ITS FINAL FORM AND MAY BE UPDATED.
MILES O'BRIEN, CNN ANCHOR: Yesterday's attacks took out, among other things, a former Republican Guard building in Baghdad, and a makeshift rocket complex near Tikrit. At the same time, insurgents killed two more soldiers and a U.S. civilian contractor.
We get the latest from CNN's Alfonso Van Marsh, joining us live from Baghdad -- Alfonso.
ALFONSO VAN MARSH, CNN CORRESPONDENT: Hi, Miles.
I'll tell you about Iron Hammer in just a moment. First, I want to give you the very latest information from Task Force Iron Horse north of Baghdad. As you mentioned, we understand that two U.S. military members have died and three U.S. service members were also injured when their convoy hit a roadside bomb north of Baghdad.
Let me tell you a little bit more about Operation Iron Hammer now. Just a few hours ago, about five hours ago, a third night of consecutive strikes against what the U.S. calls enemies, or operators that are trying to hit U.S. soldier, other coalition forces.
Last night, we had a chance to go out with some of those U.S. troops as they went over the skies of Baghdad, trying to find targets, targets they say, that are being used by a small number, about 5,000 fighters, to target U.S. forces and other coalition forces.
But this marks a strategic change in U.S. strategy in Iraq, going on the offensive, in the wake of the rise of attacks against U.S. and other coalition forces.
Now following last night's strikes, we were able to get a chance to see some of the aftermath. As you mentioned, they hit a Republican Guard building. The U.S. military says that these enemies or opposition fighters used that building to launch mortar and small arms attack against U.S. forces. Now it seems this is all happening rather quickly and it is, three days straight in a row, going after alleged enemies, opposition fighters from the United States and other coalition forces, But the United States says it has reason; since the beginning of November, some 60 U.S. service members have died -- Miles.
O'BRIEN: Alfonso Van Marsh in Baghdad, thanks very much.
TO ORDER A VIDEO OF THIS TRANSCRIPT, PLEASE CALL 800-CNN-NEWS OR USE OUR SECURE ONLINE ORDER FORM LOCATED AT www.fdch.com
