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Hezbollah Rockets Rain Down on Haifa; Iwo Jima Group to Help Evacuate Americans out of Lebanon

Aired July 18, 2006 - 10:59   ET

THIS IS A RUSH TRANSCRIPT. THIS COPY MAY NOT BE IN ITS FINAL FORM AND MAY BE UPDATED.

DARYN KAGAN, CNN ANCHOR: As we come to the top of the hour, let's take a look at what we know.
In the seventh day of fighting, the evacuation of Americans from Beirut is gaining steam. Pentagon officials say the U.S. is dispatching the Iwo Jima expeditionary group to help. We're told that one chartered cruise ship is now in Beirut to take part in the evacuations. At least one more is on the way. There are some 25,000 Americans in Lebanon, but not all of them want to leave.

Meanwhile, more Hezbollah rockets have rained down on Haifa, Israel. The latest barrage just within the past hour. CNN crews in Haifa say the streets of the Israeli port city are mostly abandoned.

And good morning. I'm Daryn Kagan. Welcome to our second hour of CNN LIVE TODAY.

Let's get right back to our developing coverage of the crisis and go to Paula Hancocks, who is in the port city in Haifa, Israel.

Paula, last we had talked to you, the sirens were going off and we were hearing booms in the background.

PAULA HANCOCKS, CNN CORRESPONDENT: That's right, Daryn.

Yes, in the last hour or so, there has been a barrage of rockets coming from southern Lebanon to all over northern Israel. Not just Haifa, this city here. We did have some rockets that hit here, and the sirens were going off and on every couple of minutes. But we know that in Nahariya, one person, according to medical sources, has been killed as a rocket took a direct hit on that particular house.

Now, we also know that Safed, just about 10 miles south of the Lebanese border, several have been wounded in that area after a barrage of rockets. They all appeared to be around about the same time. And also, (INAUDIBLE), which is just across the bay behind us, that was also heavily hit.

So, it had, up to this point, been a fairly quiet Tuesday. It didn't appear to be as bad as it had been on Monday and as deadly as it had been on Sunday, when eight people died in a train depot just behind me down the hill.

But these -- these sirens are increasing in number. And the amount of rockets that have been coming over, as I say, all very concentrated in just an hour's period. Now, we understand from ambulance services that, since last Wednesday, at least 13 civilians have been killed. And also, they're saying about 449 casualties in northern Israel. So 449 have been injured, nine of those wounded seriously.

So we're not seeing the sort of casualty figures we're seeing on the other side of the border in Lebanon, but these figures are starting to rise -- Daryn.

KAGAN: And I want to, Paula, bring our attention -- our viewers' attention to the clock that we're keeping in the lower right-hand corner to see what time it is. It's just after 6:00 p.m. in Israel. And while noting that, I'd ask you, Paula, has there been a time of day or night when the rocket attacks have tended to increase?

HANCOCKS: There really hasn't. Just when you think you're getting into a routine of violence, then all of a sudden a barrage of rockets arise when you least expect it. So, obviously, this is what Hezbollah wants.

They don't want people to get used to a certain time of day being the danger time of time. They want people to be on edge the whole time. And even though there's not a tremendous amount of casualties from these rockets themselves, they are terrorizing the Israeli people.

And the air raid sirens, to hear that air raid siren, for many of the residents of Haifa, is a horrible experience in having to think they have at least a minute to get under cover. And, of course, many of these rockets are impossible to detect by the Israeli military as well.

On a number of occasions this Tuesday, and on Monday, we heard the explosions first, followed by the siren. So Hezbollah really wanting to terrorize the Israeli people. And the Israeli people in this particular area and in northern Israel are not going out on the streets.

This morning we saw a few more people on the streets, but since we had that barrage of rockets, I can say it's pretty much deserted again.

KAGAN: Paula Hancocks, live from Haifa in northern Israel.

Thank you.

Well, now to the military perspective and more on the evacuations. We're getting word that the U.S. military moving a number of ships into the area off the coast of Lebanon.

For more on that, let's go to the Pentagon and our Jamie McIntyre -- Jamie.

JAMIE MCINTYRE, CNN SR. PENTAGON CORRESPONDENT: Well, Daryn, I'll get to those ships in just a moment. But let me underscore one thing. The main method of evacuation for U.S. citizens from Lebanon is going to be by a commercial charter vessel chartered by the U.S. government through the State Department. In addition to the Orient Queen, which we are told is trying to get into the port of Beirut right now, the U.S. government is trying to charter four or five additional charter vessels, and they could be under contract within 24 hours and then be under way shortly thereafter. Those contracts are being negotiated now.

That said, the U.S. has also beefed up its air bridge between Lebanon and Cyprus. Six U.S. Marine helicopters, CH-53 helicopters, are now operating. They have the capacity to move 300 people a day out of Lebanon to Cyprus. So far they haven't taken nearly that many -- about 60 today, 40 yesterday, maybe 20 the day before. But those helicopters are going to be reserved for people who have to get out in the most dire circumstances.

We see here some video of the people who left yesterday on CH-53 helicopters, moved from Lebanon to Cyprus. But again, the main evacuation is going to be by commercial charter vessel.

That said, the U.S. government has also ordered five more ships to move from the Red Sea to the Mediterranean off the coast of Lebanon. That includes USS Iwo Jima, which is a small amphibious assault ship. It's basically a small aircraft carrier equipped with helicopters. In fact, some of the helicopters that are operating now came from the Iwo Jima, others came from Europe.

In addition, some other ships from that group will also be there. They provide a lot of capability.

They have hospital facilities on board, they have additional helicopters. They could even be pressed into transporting people from Lebanon to Cyprus. But most of the ships won't even be there until Thursday or Friday because they have to go through the Suez Canal.

And they basically will be there to provide additional support and capacity if needed. But the main evacuation will be by commercial vessel.

One of the ships, USS Nashville, got a head start through the Suez Canal. It's supposed to be on station tonight -- Daryn.

KAGAN: Well, on those commercial chartered vessels, will there be any U.S. military on board there just for protection?

MCINTYRE: Well, it's -- there's not going to be a large armed force on these vessels. It's not clear whether there will be any military. There may be some people coordinating things, but we're told that they have enough confidence in the security situation at the port of Beirut. They don't believe they need to put military personnel on the ground there.

Whether there will be a small number of U.S. military on the ships, not clear. But right now, they believe that the security situation is such that they can essentially charter these ships, bring them in, fill them up with Americans on a vessel that's designed to carry passengers and some degree of comfort, and has the food, the restroom facilities, the other things that they're going to need for the -- for what is essentially a short trip between Lebanon and Cyprus. We're told by cruise ship it takes five or six hours at most to get from one place to the other.

KAGAN: Well, and there's this crossing on the AP wire that supports a number that you had told us earlier, Jamie. The U.S. ambassador telling AP that 320 Americans will leave Lebanon by the end of today, a thousand by the following -- by tomorrow.

MCINTYRE: Well, that would be by ship, mostly. Most of those by ship, some by helicopter.

KAGAN: All right. Jamie McIntyre, thank you.

Let's get more on the evacuation, go to Beirut, the city that so many are trying to get out of.

Our Alessio Vinci is there at the Lebanese capital.

Alessio, hello.

ALESSIO VINCI, CNN CORRESPONDENT: Hello to you, Daryn.

Well, actually, I'm speaking to you from the ground of the U.S. Embassy here in Beirut. And that is where those CH-53 helicopters are landing and taking off with the Americans Jamie was talking about.

We understand that two helicopters have already left earlier today, each carrying 30 passengers. And we just met a group of Americans who are about to board two new helicopters which are expected to land here any time soon now, and, of course, we will bring you those pictures live as soon as that is happening.

These are, of course, people with special needs. We met -- especially women with young children. We met people with old parents, people who wanted to be reunited with their children.

So these are all people who have a special need, as Jamie was reporting. The bulk of the evacuation will actually take place most likely by ferry, as soon as those cruise ships and ferries are actually going to arrive here at the port of Beirut.

Now, this is, of course, not a massive evacuation that we are witnessing right now. This is just special cases.

Again, it is very important to note, the important thing is that -- the big difference between the Americans and the other nationalities that are leaving here is that Americans actually have to pay. They don't know exactly how much, but we understand it is about the cost of a ticket, of an airline ticket between here, Beirut, to the island of Cyprus. That's where these people have been -- are being flown over.

It's about a 50-minute ride. We've heard the State Department security officials here briefing the passengers before they have to go on board. Of course they'll all be wearing life vests. They will be wearing helmets. They've been briefed as to what exactly they have to do in those helicopters.

These are huge, obviously, military helicopters. Probably everybody that is going to board them, it will be their first experience on this type of aircraft. So they have to understand -- it's a very specific procedure to follow. And so they've been briefed really very clearly as to what they have to do -- Daryn.

KAGAN: Do they have to pay up front before they are allowed to get on the helicopter?

VINCI: No, they have to sign a promissory note. That is a standard procedure anywhere in the world where Americans are stranded, and so they have to just promise that they will pay eventually back the U.S. government. We understand that those who cannot pay, loans are also available to those people -- Daryn.

KAGAN: Alessio Vinci, live from the grounds of the U.S. Embassy in Beirut.

Thank you, Alessio.

There are those back here in the U.S. that are waiting for word from the Mideast. A wife and mother here in America, her husband and four children stranded in Lebanon. We have that family's story coming up next.

Also, unfiltered and unedited and online. Life in the war zone. Ordinary people with extraordinary perspectives. We'll show you how to find their tales on the Internet.

This is CNN, the most trusted name in news.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

KAGAN: As we come up on the quarter-hour, let's let you know what we know at this time.

The fighting in the Middle East nears the start of its second week. A short time ago several more Hezbollah rockets shook the Israeli city of Haifa. No injuries were reported there. One person was killed in a rocket attack closer to the Lebanese border.

This hour in Lebanon, frantic evacuations under way. Our Chris Burns says a cruise ship has started evacuating Americans from Beirut. The Pentagon is also sending the three-ship Iwo Jima group to help out. About 25,000 Americans were in Lebanon when the fighting began.

As diplomats search for ways to end this crisis, let's take a look at the scene along the Israeli-Lebanese border. Neither Israeli nor Hezbollah forces showing any signs of breaking down.

Just a few minutes ago, the British prime minister, Tony Blair, addressing parliament about the current Mideast crisis. Let's listen to that.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

TONY BLAIR, BRITISH PRIME MINISTER: ... stabilize the existing situation in Lebanon and in Gaza. We must send you such stabilization to help Lebanon rebuild and eventually to re-begin negotiations between Israel and Palestine. But at root, we need to recognize the fundamental nature of the struggle in this region which has far- reaching consequences, consequences far beyond that region and consequences even in countries like our own.

All over the Middle East, there are those who want to modernize their nations who believe as we do in democracy and liberty and tolerance. But ranged against them are extremists who believe the opposite, who believe in fundamentalist states, and are at war, not against Israel's actions but against its existence. In virtually every country of the region, including on the streets of Baghdad, such a struggle is being played out.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

KAGAN: And while we were listening to sound from the British prime minister, we started showing you these live pictures.

This is the grounds of the U.S. Embassy in Beirut. And this military helicopter just landed.

It looks like they're offloading some equipment before they will be putting some Americans on board. We understand about 300 or more Americans will be leaving Beirut today.

Our Alessio Vinci is right there at the embassy and tells us more -- Alessio.

VINCI: Hello, Daryn.

As you can see the pictures, the helicopter just landed. They are indeed offloading some equipment.

We understand that 30 Americans will be boarding these helicopters within the next -- it will be part of the 320 Americans that will be leaving (INAUDIBLE) today. We understand that another 150 American students are about to leave from the Beirut port (INAUDIBLE).

So that's why we have a number, close to 300, Americans able to leave today, Beirut. (INAUDIBLE). People who are being allowed to board these helicopters are people with special needs (INAUDIBLE).

KAGAN: I'm going to jump in here, because it's really hard to hear and understand Alessio over the chopper blades there. So let me just tell you a little bit about what he was trying to pass on.

This military helicopter has just landed on the grounds of the U.S. Embassy. They're offloading some supplies, but about 30 people, 30 Americans, will be getting on board and airlifted out of Beirut.

The U.S. ambassador saying today that 320 Americans will get out today. They expect a thousand more tomorrow. So, the evacuation pace, although it's been slow, does appear to be picking up.

We're going to keep these pictures up while I go ahead and introduce you to our next guests. And we're talking with a wife and mother playing out her worst fear with this Mideast crisis as it escalates.

Lisa Ismail's husband and four children are stuck in Lebanon. She says a bomb hit two blocks away from where they're staying, so they sought safety in another area as they wait out word on evacuations. And Lisa is on the phone with me right now from here in the U.S.

Lisa, hello.

LISA ISMAIL, HUSBAND, FOUR CHILDREN STUCK IN LEBANON: Hi.

KAGAN: What kind of contact are you getting with your family?

ISMAIL: The last I heard -- I had a few minutes yesterday -- they had gotten out of Tyre and they are in the mountains.

KAGAN: Tell us what they're doing there.

ISMAIL: Right now, they're staying at a hotel. They apparently just -- when they left, there were more bombs. They were staying -- they had been in Tyre, and they -- when the bomb hit in Tyre and their windows were blown out, they decided to seek shelter right outside of Tyre in a place that had already been bombed.

And so they went there, and then they decided it wasn't safe. And they managed somehow -- I haven't gotten the whole story from my husband, because we didn't have very much time to talk. I got disconnected. So -- but he said there was -- he had an amazing story about how they managed to get away from the area of Tyre and they got into the mountains.

KAGAN: But the original purpose of the trip, you have family there in Lebanon?

ISMAIL: Yes, his family is -- a lot of his family is there. He has parents and a brother and sister, and extended family. And the children and my husband were staying at his parents' house.

KAGAN: Tell us about their efforts to get out.

ISMAIL: Well, he has e-mailed the embassy in Beirut, and he -- that's all right now. I know he's up in the mountains and they're really not sure what they're going to do next. And I'm, quite frankly, worried about how they're going to make it to get to Beirut, to get evacuated.

KAGAN: So they went to a place to be safe, and now you're concerned that they're going to have trouble getting to the help now that it's getting closer.

ISMAIL: Right. Yes, I'm not sure how they're going to make it all of the way.

KAGAN: How are they doing? And how are the kids doing? Are they scared?

ISMAIL: Actually, I spoke to my oldest daughter yesterday. It was her 11th birthday. And I asked her if she was scared.

She said, no, she wasn't scared. But I've heard from other families that got in contact with them that the children were very scared and they were hiding under tables.

KAGAN: So you think...

ISMAIL: ... when the bomb hit and blew up the windows.

KAGAN: Do you think she was being brave for mom on the phone there?

ISMAIL: Yes.

KAGAN: Do you think maybe it's even harder for you on this end?

ISMAIL: I -- that's hard to say. It's very hard. Yes, you know, I would rather be with them, you know, than to have them there without me. But, no, I -- it's probably harder there, but...

KAGAN: Were you not able to make this trip?

ISMAIL: No, I had some other -- other things that I had to do. Actually, I'm away from home. I'm from New Jersey, and I'm out -- I was at a family reunion on my side of the family.

KAGAN: So that's how you were separated from your family. And how do you feel? Are you frustrated by the pace of trying to get Americans out?

ISMAIL: Yes, I'm very frustrated, because every day, you know, more bombing is happening, and it's scary, you know, wondering.

KAGAN: Well, the word -- I don't know if you heard our newscast earlier, but I'll just pass this on. I don't know if it will offer you any comfort, but the U.S. ambassador today in Beirut saying they expect 320 Americans to get out today, but a thousand tomorrow.

And, you know, there's ships -- chartered ships on the way. So it does appear that the infrastructure to get Americans out is on the way, even if it's been slow.

ISMAIL: Yes, that's good. My main concern is how they're going -- the evacuation is from Beirut. So I'm just worried about them getting to Beirut.

KAGAN: And your husband's from there? ISMAIL: He's from there, yes.

KAGAN: Yes. So if somebody knows...

ISMAIL: Yes, he's been through a lot of this (INAUDIBLE) before.

KAGAN: We wish you well in reuniting with your family.

ISMAIL: Thank you very much. I appreciate your help.

KAGAN: Lisa, thank you.

Lisa Ismail. Her husband and four kids in Lebanon, and they've moved up into the mountains to try and stay safe. She said -- she was explaining to us that she was concerned about how they would even get into Beirut to get on either one of these helicopters or one of the ships.

Let's go back to these live pictures that we've been watching. This is the grounds of the U.S. Embassy in Beirut.

Our Alessio Vinci is there to describe to us what we are watching -- Alessio.

VINCI: Well, Daryn, these helicopters that landed a few moments ago, (INAUDIBLE). And we understand that some 30 Americans are about to board. These are Americans who were stranded here, who were on vacations here, people who came here to spend a few weeks with their family members (INAUDIBLE).

KAGAN: I'm going to jump in here again. We thought we had a better connection with Alessio to explain to you exactly what we're watching.

But once again, this is the grounds of the U.S. Embassy. There are about 30 Americans that are about to pile on board that military helicopter and be evacuated from the embassy.

Those that are getting priority, children, the elderly, those that have some medical issues. The U.S. ambassador saying they expect some 320 Americans to get out today, a thousand tomorrow. It all has been by airlift so far, but there are a number of ships and chartered ships being coordinated by the State Department on the way to Lebanon to help with those evacuations.

Twenty-five thousand Americans in Lebanon. Not all of those, however, do want to get out.

We're going to continue to monitor the story and, of course, these pictures, these dramatic pictures from the embassy. And as we do, I'll tell you, if you are an American in Lebanon and need help getting out, you can call this number: 202-501-4444. And if you're in the U.S. and have loved ones in Lebanon, you need information, 888- 407-4747.

Back live to the U.S. Embassy in Beirut in just a moment. We will continue to follow developments in the Middle East.

I'm back after this.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

KAGAN: And we're going to keep this picture up for you on the right part of your screen. That is the U.S. Embassy in Beirut, in Lebanon. That military helicopter standing by, waiting for about 30 Americans to get on board to be airlifted out of Beirut.

While we keep that picture up, we want to let you know there of course is a lot of other news going on in the world and around the country.

For a little bit more on that, here's our Tony Harris -- Tony.

TONY HARRIS, CNN ANCHOR: And Daryn, we're keeping an eye on a situation at LaGuardia Airport in New York City, an ongoing situation, actually, since yesterday, where hundreds of passengers have been stranded because of a power outage.

The power outage has interrupted security screening at the marine terminal. So it's getting a little serious. And part of the main terminal is affected as well.

Delta, for example, has canceled at least three of its shuttle flights between Washington and Boston. American Airlines just sent us along an advisory just a couple of minutes ago saying that the power outage has shut down checked baggage operations. American has canceled 13 flights so far today from LaGuardia.

Some LaGuardia-bound American flights are being diverted to JFK and to Newark International Airport in New Jersey. Passengers booked on flights leaving out of LaGuardia are advised to call American Airlines and get an update on the situation -- in particular, their flight.

And American, Delta and all of the affected airlines are working with the Port Authority of New York, the Port Authority of New Jersey, and the big power company in that area, Con Ed, to rectify the situation.

But we will keep an eye on that for you -- Daryn.

KAGAN: All right, Tony. Thank you.

HARRIS: Sure thing.

KAGAN: Back to you in a moment.

Meanwhile, while we continue to keep these live pictures up from the U.S. Embassy in Beirut, I want to bring you up to date on what we know at this time as the fighting in the Middle East nears the start of its second week.

A short time ago, several more Hezbollah rockets shook the Israeli city of Haifa. No injuries reported there, but one person was killed in a rocket attack closer to the Lebanese border.

This hour in Lebanon, frantic evacuations under way. Our Chris Burns said a cruise ship has started evacuating Americans from Beirut. The Pentagon is also sending the three-ship Iwo Jima group to help out.

About 25,000 Americans were in Lebanon when the fighting began.

Diplomats searching for ways to end the crisis taking a look at the scene here along the Israeli-Lebanese border. Neither Israeli nor Hezbollah forces showing signs of backing down.

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