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CNN Live Today
Coalition Calls Raids Successful
Aired August 11, 2003 - 11:33 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.
HEIDI COLLINS, CNN ANCHOR: The crackdown now in Iraq. U.S. military launched an operation today to find anyone who may be plotting attacks on American troops. The move comes one day after another U.S. soldier died in hostile action. CNN's Jane Arraf joining us now live from Tikrit. Hello, Jane.
JANE ARRAF, CNN BAGHDAD BUREAU CHIEF: Hello, Heidi. Well the U.S. Army has announced a major new operation to isolate and capture what it calls remnants of Saddam Hussein loyalists and people planning attacks on U.S. solders.
Now it's called "Operation Ivy Lightning." And according to officials it's centered around towns in remote areas north of Tikrit, Saddam Hussein's hometown. They're essentially chasing people they say were driven out of this area by operations which disrupted their local operations here. And they say the raids were centered further north in those remote towns that some of these people are believed to have fled to.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
MAJ. JOSSLYN EBERLY, U.S. MARINE CORPS: It was very successful in the fact that it was combined operations where we had light infantry, infantry, air assaults, armor, attack aviation all coming together to ensure they that they could do a cordon of security and secure anybody who might be trying to escape the area.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
ARRAF: The 4th Infantry Division, which is heading those raids, describes it as the biggest number of coalition troops in those remote areas since the war ended.
Now although it's aimed at stamping out operations here, and they say, in fact, they have essentially made a lot progress, it hasn't in fact ended those operations. In Baquba, last night, as you mentioned, Heidi, one American soldier died in hospital after being wounded by an improvised explosive device placed outside a police station. Another two was injured. They were coming to investigate a suspicious package.
Now three more in another area were wounded when they were hit by Rocket Propelled Grenades and another explosive device, an indication that even though they have made progress here, according to the U.S. Army, these attacks are ongoing and there still attackers out there -- Heidi.
COLLINS: All right. CNN's Jane Arraf live from Tikrit this morning. Thanks so much, Jane.
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 August 11, 2003 - 11:33 ET
THIS IS A RUSH TRANSCRIPT. THIS COPY MAY NOT BE IN ITS FINAL FORM AND MAY BE UPDATED.
HEIDI COLLINS, CNN ANCHOR: The crackdown now in Iraq. U.S. military launched an operation today to find anyone who may be plotting attacks on American troops. The move comes one day after another U.S. soldier died in hostile action. CNN's Jane Arraf joining us now live from Tikrit. Hello, Jane.
JANE ARRAF, CNN BAGHDAD BUREAU CHIEF: Hello, Heidi. Well the U.S. Army has announced a major new operation to isolate and capture what it calls remnants of Saddam Hussein loyalists and people planning attacks on U.S. solders.
Now it's called "Operation Ivy Lightning." And according to officials it's centered around towns in remote areas north of Tikrit, Saddam Hussein's hometown. They're essentially chasing people they say were driven out of this area by operations which disrupted their local operations here. And they say the raids were centered further north in those remote towns that some of these people are believed to have fled to.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
MAJ. JOSSLYN EBERLY, U.S. MARINE CORPS: It was very successful in the fact that it was combined operations where we had light infantry, infantry, air assaults, armor, attack aviation all coming together to ensure they that they could do a cordon of security and secure anybody who might be trying to escape the area.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
ARRAF: The 4th Infantry Division, which is heading those raids, describes it as the biggest number of coalition troops in those remote areas since the war ended.
Now although it's aimed at stamping out operations here, and they say, in fact, they have essentially made a lot progress, it hasn't in fact ended those operations. In Baquba, last night, as you mentioned, Heidi, one American soldier died in hospital after being wounded by an improvised explosive device placed outside a police station. Another two was injured. They were coming to investigate a suspicious package.
Now three more in another area were wounded when they were hit by Rocket Propelled Grenades and another explosive device, an indication that even though they have made progress here, according to the U.S. Army, these attacks are ongoing and there still attackers out there -- Heidi.
COLLINS: All right. CNN's Jane Arraf live from Tikrit this morning. Thanks so much, Jane.
TO ORDER A VIDEO OF THIS TRANSCRIPT, PLEASE CALL 800-CNN-NEWS OR USE OUR SECURE ONLINE ORDER FORM LOCATED AT www.fdch.com
