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Two U.S. Soldiers Killed in Separate Incidents in Iraq
Aired November 17, 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.
KYRA PHILLIPS, CNN ANCHOR: We begin this hour in Iraq, where Ivy Cyclone is stirring up trouble for U.S. adversaries in and around Saddam Hussein's hometown of Tikrit. Ivy Cyclone is CENTCOM's name for a noisy mix of airstrikes, ground assaults and precision raids against so-called extremists and subversive elements.
We get the latest now from CNN's Walter Rodgers in Baghdad.
Hi, Walt.
WALTER RODGERS, CNN CORRESPONDENT: Hello, Kyra.
First, before we get into Operation Ivy Cyclone in the area of Tikrit, we need to announce that we've received word two more American soldiers have been killed in the Baghdad area, both with the 4th Infantry Division. The two were killed in separate incidents. Also a civilian was killed in one of those incidents. Those are the only details we have at this point.
As for the offensive around Tikrit, Saddam Hussein's hometown, that is basically a punitive mission. U.S. artillery mortars, tanks, pummeling suspected hideouts of Iraqi paramilitary holdouts, also Saddam loyalists, also some extremists, and perhaps even some foreign fighters. Much of the artillery which was unleashed in the Tikrit area last night, and we believe that operation is resumed today. Much of that is aimed at areas, where for example, where the Iraq hiss fired mortars on the United States' position's previous nights.
The success of this mission we'll have to judge some time later. It's obviously aimed at disrupting the Iraqis' ability to attack U.S. soldiers. So again, we'll have to see whether there's a reduction on attacks on U.S. forces in coming weeks.
Some of the targets were extraordinarily punitive. The U.S. Army approached several homeowners in the Tikrit area. Those homeowners, the homes which the Army then destroyed, were said to have belonged to Iraqi insurgents who helped shoot down an American helicopter November 7th. The U.S. Army went and told the residents to get out of the houses and told them to take what they wanted because the houses would be destroyed. This is part of this continuing operation, Ivy Cyclone to 4th Infantry Division -- Kyra.
PHILLIPS: Walter Rodgers live from Baghdad, 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
Aired November 17, 2003 - 13:00 ET
THIS IS A RUSH TRANSCRIPT. THIS COPY MAY NOT BE IN ITS FINAL FORM AND MAY BE UPDATED.
KYRA PHILLIPS, CNN ANCHOR: We begin this hour in Iraq, where Ivy Cyclone is stirring up trouble for U.S. adversaries in and around Saddam Hussein's hometown of Tikrit. Ivy Cyclone is CENTCOM's name for a noisy mix of airstrikes, ground assaults and precision raids against so-called extremists and subversive elements.
We get the latest now from CNN's Walter Rodgers in Baghdad.
Hi, Walt.
WALTER RODGERS, CNN CORRESPONDENT: Hello, Kyra.
First, before we get into Operation Ivy Cyclone in the area of Tikrit, we need to announce that we've received word two more American soldiers have been killed in the Baghdad area, both with the 4th Infantry Division. The two were killed in separate incidents. Also a civilian was killed in one of those incidents. Those are the only details we have at this point.
As for the offensive around Tikrit, Saddam Hussein's hometown, that is basically a punitive mission. U.S. artillery mortars, tanks, pummeling suspected hideouts of Iraqi paramilitary holdouts, also Saddam loyalists, also some extremists, and perhaps even some foreign fighters. Much of the artillery which was unleashed in the Tikrit area last night, and we believe that operation is resumed today. Much of that is aimed at areas, where for example, where the Iraq hiss fired mortars on the United States' position's previous nights.
The success of this mission we'll have to judge some time later. It's obviously aimed at disrupting the Iraqis' ability to attack U.S. soldiers. So again, we'll have to see whether there's a reduction on attacks on U.S. forces in coming weeks.
Some of the targets were extraordinarily punitive. The U.S. Army approached several homeowners in the Tikrit area. Those homeowners, the homes which the Army then destroyed, were said to have belonged to Iraqi insurgents who helped shoot down an American helicopter November 7th. The U.S. Army went and told the residents to get out of the houses and told them to take what they wanted because the houses would be destroyed. This is part of this continuing operation, Ivy Cyclone to 4th Infantry Division -- Kyra.
PHILLIPS: Walter Rodgers live from Baghdad, 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
