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Evacuating To Cyprus; More Explosions In Haifa; Trail of Evacuees; Children In Lebanon; Stories Of Waiting Evacuees

Aired July 18, 2006 - 10:00   ET

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

CAROL COSTELLO, CNN ANCHOR: It's time to head to Atlanta and Daryn Kagan.
Good morning.

DARYN KAGAN, CNN ANCHOR: All right, Carol and Miles, thank you.

And here's what we know in the seven days of fighting. The evacuation of Americans from Beirut is gaining steam. Last hour Pentagon officials said the U.S. is dispatching the Iwo Jima expeditionary group to help. We're told that at least one chartered cruise ship is now in Beirut to take part in the evacuations. At least one more is on the way. There are about 25,000 Americans in Lebanon. Not all of them want to leave, however.

Meanwhile, the Hezbollah rocket attacks on Israel have eased up a bit today. One Israeli commander says that's because his forces have taken out a large part of Hezbollah's arsenal. Israel vows that it will not reign in its offensive and that strikes could continue for weeks.

Good morning. Thanks for joining us. I'm Daryn Kagan.

We'll begin this hour with a developing story from the Pentagon this hour. And for that let's go to our Jamie McIntyre.

Jamie, good morning.

JAMIE MCINTYRE, CNN CORRESPONDENT: Well, good morning, Daryn.

The State Department is the one doing the main coordination of the evacuation of American citizens from Lebanon. But the Department of Defense, the U.S. military, of course, is assisting. And part of that assistance now is the dispatch of five ships from the Red Sea led by the USS Iwo Jima. That's an amphibious assault ships. That is essentially a small aircraft carrier equipped with helicopter. It will be accompanied by several other amphibious assault ships and also a small swift vessel as well.

Their exact tasking is unassigned at this point. They're just being sent to help. Obviously have a lot of capability. They could be used to move -- to transport Americans from Lebanon to Cyprus. Their helicopters could also be used for evacuations.

Meanwhile, the helicopter evacuations of people who are in some sort of dire situation continues. Another 30 taken out from Beirut today. That brings a total over the last three days of Americans helicoptered out of Lebanon to just under a hundred at this point. But, obviously, as you said, thousands of Americans still want to get out and there's been some frustration at the slow pace of the evacuation operation.

The main evacuation will be taking place by chartered cruise ship and the first ship involved in that is The Orient Queen which we are told is close to Lebanon but has not yet made its way through the Israeli naval blockade. It is being escorted by the USS Gonzalez, a destroyer, that will provide security for the what we're told is about a five-hour run between Beirut and Cyprus once it's able to get underway.

In addition, the U.S. government is trying to work on other ways to get Americans on other commercial ships that are used by other nations as well in order to facilitate the flow of Americans out. But at this point, the first U.S. warship that will probably arrive on the scene is the USS Nashville, which got a head start through the Suez Canal. It could be off the coast of Lebanon by tonight.

Daryn.

KAGAN: Well, and, Jamie, how does the Pentagon explain this delay? The French, the Italians, the Swedes, they've all been able to get out many more people than the Americans. Why has it taken so long for the U.S.?

MCINTYRE: Well, first of all, again, this is being coordinated by the State Department and the Defense Department is supporting the State Department in that role. But the primary concern has been to do this in a safe, efficient and comfortable way. A way that's orderly and provides an order of comfort and assurance to the Americans who are being taken out, that they're not being rushed out in a way with a plan that's haphazard and just been thrown together.

They're trying to do this in a way that allows Americans to orderly and safely move from their locations in Lebanon to ships and then be transported in some level of comfort to safety in Cyprus. And they've been doing it in a very deliberate fashion and they say that that's the primary reason it's taking long.

Obviously there's complications with negotiating with the clearances through the Israeli navy. It is a war zone essentially. And they have been reluctant to do what some other nations have done, which is move people over ground in areas that they think are not necessarily safe. So the explanation you get from the U.S. government is that part of this is an abundance of caution and they just want to make sure that as they do this operation, they do it right.

KAGAN: Jamie McIntyre live at the Pentagon, thank you. And at the top of the hour I told you that it sound like things are a little bit quieter in Israel today. Now we're getting reports from northern Israel, from Haifa, that recently there was sounds of about four or five explosions. We'll go live to Haifa in just a moment. First, let's go to the other side of that border and to the Lebanese capital of Beirut. That's where we find journalist Anthony Mills. Anthony, hello.

ANTHONY MILLS, JOURNALIST: Hi there.

KAGAN: What can you tell us about what it's like in Beirut today?

MILLS: Just a short while ago we understand that it's going to be two more helicopters, two more U.S. helicopters, or at least two helicopters that have already taken about 30 U.S. citizens each out of Lebanon, are going to be doing the same thing again. So the evacuation has already started. Albeit fairly slowly or in limited fashion.

We can imagine that things will pick up when the group of ships led by the USS Iwo Jima does actually begin to get involved. And as well, of course, The Orient Queen cruise ship. Then I think we'll really see the pace pick up here.

There is a sense of urgency that has been added to the situation by the rapid escalation of events here in Lebanon. In fact, in the conflict between Lebanon and Israel. And, again, this morning, the rocket attacks on Haifa. We can expect a strong response. So I think there is a sense of urgency. And as soon as that cruise ship is here -- it's apparently been delayed. But as soon as it's here, I think that the pace will pick up.

Back to you.

KAGAN: And what about attacks there in Beirut today?

MILLS: Well, early this morning, at dawn, resounding explosions across the capital. And throughout the day there have been further assaults on Lebanon. But the capital itself has been fairly quiet for a while now. That only increases the anticipation, to be honest, among Beirut residents, at least of further strikes. They're expecting many of them. That something will happen tonight.

And the streets, which were a little fuller today as people did venture out somewhat, are emptying now again. And I think as night falls and people begin to get even more concerned that something may happen, that that response is almost certainly going to be coming, we'll see the streets empty out again as people just stay at home, watching the television and awaiting the worst.

KAGAN: Anthony, thank you.

I want to draw your attention, Anthony mentioning night getting closer. We're going to keep a clock up on the screen in the lower right-hand corner. Right now you can see it's just after 5:00 p.m. in Lebanon. It will help you follow the story there at home.

Now let's follow the trail of evacuees. Many who are pouring out of Lebanon are looking for a safe haven on the island of Cyprus in the Mediterranean. And that's where we find our Chris Burns. He is in Larnaca. (BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)

CHRIS BURNS, CNN CORRESPONDENT, (voice over): In Cyprus, port of Larnaca, growing signs that hopes of a quick end to the violence are dwindling. Hundreds of evacuees who fled in fear arrive from Beirut aboard an Italian destroyer.

UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: I don't want to feel that I have to teach them something I really don't want to teach them and it doesn't have any meaning, any logic.

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: I'm sad for the country -- to see my country again in a painful period. But I think it will pass.

BURNS: With the war zone less than a half hour away by plane or a few hours by boat, Cyprus has repeatedly served as a haven during conflicts in the region. As he decompresses, this Lebanese-American recounts the wild ride he and his relatives took at top speed through the streets of Beirut to reach a private company that evacuated him.

JADE JURI, LEBANESE-AMERICAN EVACUEE: It felt like a huge impact. Like the car shook even while it was going about -- weaving in and out of traffic going between like 60, 70 miles an hour, something like that.

BURNS: And he's got pictures to prove it.

JURI: We heard about two rockets had hit a building. We saw like the smoke come up from a building maybe a block down from where we were passing by.

BURNS: Jade Juri is among thousands of visiting Americans in Lebanon, home to an estimated 25,000 U.S. citizens. How many choose to leave will indicate how much the violence has shaken or shattered the dream of Lebanon's rebirth, 15 years after a devastating civil war.

(END VIDEOTAPE)

KAGAN: And our Chris Burns joins us live now from Cyprus.

Chris, I was reading that as the evacuees arrive there, there's a hotel crunch because it's the height of the tourist season there and they're having a tough place finding places to stay.

BURNS: Well, Daryn, that's true. This has, though -- this is a place that's quite used to bringing through various refugees or evacuees from various conflicts in the Middle East. They have a lot of experience. So what they tend to do here is they try to move them out very quickly. Most of those who have been brought through here have been put on planes, either commercial or chartered, and moved out, back to the states or other places. That's what we've seen. Though we've seen a number of Americans, though, just yesterday brought back from helicopter from the U.S. embassy in Beirut. They were put in a hotel overnight. But most of them are gone by today.

Daryn.

KAGAN: Chris Burns live from Larnaca, Cyprus. Thank you for that.

Now we were just telling you within the last few minutes a series of four or five explosions heard in Haifa in the northern Israeli town. That's where we find our Paula Hancocks.

Paula.

PAULA HANCOCKS, CNN CORRESPONDENT: Hello.

Well, as you can tell, we are having another air siren at the moment. This is supposed to give you a one-minute warning to be able to go and find shelter. Now we have been hearing a number of explosions over the past few minutes and seconds. Now they have sounded a little further away. There have been many dull thuds. They have seemed to be further north from where we are. We're about 25 miles south from the Lebanese border at the moment.

Now a few hours ago we had a couple of rockets that hit Haifa and the surrounding areas. No casualties in that particular attack. But as I said, we heard a number of explosions that did seem a little further away. There are no reports on where they could be at the moment. Suggestions of maybe Acco (ph), which is just across the bay further north from us. Also Nahariya, which is closer to the Lebanese border.

But I can see now with this -- just looking down onto the streets, there are very few people on the streets and haven't been since this escalation in violence began. But the few that are left on the streets are now running for cover to get into bomb shelters which are close by.

KAGAN: Paula, explain to us again how the siren system works. You said there's a minute or so warning.

HANCOCKS: Well, I'm actually now hearing three, four explosions that seem as though they may be in the vicinity of Haifa. Four explosions very closely together. And I can't exactly see where they are, although we are under wartime censorship rules from the Israeli military. We're not allowed to show you where these explosions are actually taking place. We can't show a wide live or taped picture because they do not want Hezbollah to be able to watch our transmission and then be able to use that intelligence to help their targeting. Now CNN and other media networks have agreed to this.

But as I say, we did hear four explosions just in Haifa, the third largest city here in Israel. Now, of course, we'll have to wait and see if there's any fire alarms, any fire ambulances and police that are going to that area. That's always an indication that maybe it did hit a residential area.

KAGAN: OK. We will go ahead and check back with you. We'll let you take cover and gather more information all at the same time. Paula Hancocks in Haifa where a number of rockets just hit while we were on the air. We'll go back to Haifa as developments become available.

The crisis in the Mideast is hitting home here in the U.S. We're going to talk with a mother about her desperation. Her children are in Lebanon. She's here in the U.S. doing anything she can to get them back home. You're watching CNN, the most trusted name in news.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

KAGAN: Looking at live pictures from Haifa in northern Israel. We had been reporting that things were a bit quieter today. But just within the last minute, a fresh barrage of Hezbollah rockets slammed into this northern Israeli city. No immediate word on casualties at this time. You can tell it's a live camera we have put up there.

Let's go ahead and take a look at what we know. This is the seventh day of fighting. The evacuation of Americans from Beirut gaining some steam. Last hour Pentagon officials said the U.S. is dispatching the Iwo Jima expeditionary group to help.

We're told that at least one chartered cruise ship is now in Beirut to take part in those evacuations. At least one more is on the way. And there are some 25,000 Americans in Lebanon, not all want to leave. Meanwhile, the Hezbollah rocket attacks on Israel, as I was saying before, have eased some today. But we do have those reports of those fresh attacks just within the last moments. In fact, we were hearing them as they were happening while we were talking live to Paula Hancocks in Haifa. Israel, though, is vowing that it will not rein in its offensive and that strikes could continue for another three or four weeks.

KAGAN: So, we told you not all Americans want to get out. But there is one mother here in America who has a desperate plea amid the growing crisis in the Middle East. Joyce Nehme's 16-year-old daughter and 12-year-old son are stuck in a small town about 10 minutes east of Beirut and she is desperately trying to get them back home safely. Joyce joins us now by phone from East Brunswick, New Jersey.

Joyce, thanks for taking some time to speak with us.

JOYCE NEHME, DAUGHTER IN LEBANON: Oh, thank you.

KAGAN: Tell us about your kids and what they're doing in Lebanon.

JOYCE NEHME: Rita and Mark (ph) went for -- to spend their summer vacation with the relatives on June 14. And I was supposed to go join them in August and then everybody will come back. Me and my husband and my kids. And all of a sudden the world, you know, (INAUDIBLE).

KAGAN: Yes.

JOYCE NEHME: And my kids were trapped. They're trapped in Lebanon. I'm here. And I've been trying to call the U.S. Department of State and everybody that would do anything just to get them out of there.

KAGAN: Now have you been able to register them? What are you hearing from the State Department about getting the kids out?

JOYCE NEHME: When I called on Friday seeing what's the steps to do, they said you have to go online and register your kids, which I did. And also I spoke Rita over the phone and I told her to do it also from there, from Lebanon. And I went online to the U.S. embassy website and I did it also via e-mail and I faxed it. And I called the embassy, you know, but it's hard to get through.

KAGAN: Hello. Are you with us?

JOYCE NEHME: Yes.

KAGAN: OK. Actually we have -- I don't think it's a surprise. I think you know we were going to set this up. But we're going to have a nice moment here because we're able to get Rita, your 16-year- old daughter who is in Lebanon, on the phone with us too.

So, Rita, say hi to mom.

RITA NEHME, DAUGHTER: Hi, mom.

JOYCE NEHME: How are you?

RITA NEHME: I'm good.

JOYCE NEHME: How's everything? How's Mark?

RITA NEHME: Mark is good. Everything is good. I mean we just got word that the ships are here but we don't know yet when we're evacuating.

JOYCE NEHME: You'll be home soon. You'll be home soon.

RITA NEHME: But they said they'll tell us four hours in advance.

KAGAN: Joyce, let me jump in here and talk to Rita a little bit.

So, Rita, you are in a situation where you're able to get information about what you're supposed to do?

RITA NEHME: Yes.

KAGAN: Yes. And so what kind of word are you hearing about how long before you and your little brother can get on a ship and get out of there?

RITA NEHME: Well, we registered with the American embassy in Lebanon and they keep sending us e-mails. But they still haven't told us when specifically we're leaving. But they just sent me an e-mail today saying that the ships are here and that the plan is going to be in motion very soon. And they told me all the details of what to pack and that only one suitcase per traveler and things like that.

KAGAN: So did that feel good to get that information? A little bit reassuring?

RITA NEHME: Oh, yes, very reassuring.

KAGAN: How has this been for you? You're 16. How old's your brother, 11?

RITA NEHME: Twelve.

KAGAN: Twelve, sorry, don't want to shave a year off of twelve. Have you guys been scared? I know you're with family.

RITA NEHME: Yes, we're with our family. We are scared because at first it was just one town and now it's -- we don't even know what they're going to bomb next because they've been bombing random places. They've been bombing the army, too. So it's not like anything that's planned or it's random towns.

KAGAN: And nothing like you or your brother has ever seen?

RITA NEHME: No, no.

KAGAN: No.

And back to mom. Joyce, I know you grew up in Lebanon.

JOYCE NEHME: Yes.

KAGAN: And one of the reasons you chose to come here to the states and make a family and a life here is because you didn't want your kids to experience what you experienced as a young person.

JOYCE NEHME: Yes. Oh, I'm telling you, I lived like during the civil war in Lebanon and the most, most scary thing is to live during the war where, you know, you don't know what to expect. You don't know where to hide. And you don't know what's going to be next, especially with no electricity, no water, no food. So this is why I decided to come here to the United States and have a peaceful and very, you know, peaceful life at least. So my kids were born here and then they've never been through any stuff like that, like, you know, I know that Mark sometime would be afraid from fireworks. So I don't know how he's doing now.

KAGAN: Let's ask Rita, how is your brother doing?

RITA NEHME: My brother has no idea what's going on. We're trying to tell him, but he doesn't really grasp the fact of what's going on but he knows it's war. And he is scared, but I think he got used to it by the seventh day now.

KAGAN: Rita, let me ask you this. Do you think it's harder for you in Lebanon or harder for your mom who's back home in New Jersey worrying about you kids?

RITA NEHME: I think it's harder for my mom because we know right now that where our relatives live, it's a very safe location. But I know that my mom worries a lot and I'm sure that she experienced the war firsthand, too, and I don't want her to worry but I'm sure she does.

KAGAN: You hear that, mom.

JOYCE NEHME: Yes, I'm hearing that. I love you, Rita.

RITA NEHME: I love you, too.

JOYCE NEHME: OK. See you soon. You're going to be home soon. And tell Mark I love him, too.

RITA NEHME: OK.

KAGAN: Well, to the Nehme family, thank you to both of you, to Rita, 16 years old still back in Lebanon, and to mom, Joyce. Thank you for sharing that moment and we do wish you good luck.

JOYCE NEHME: Thank you so much.

RITA NEHME: Thank you.

KAGAN: In reuniting the family soon.

And to give your viewers, again, an idea of what everyone faces. If we could put the clock back up. Can we do that? Because here in the states, 10:22 a.m., where mom is in New Jersey and then in Lebanon, 5:22, getting closer to night time. That's the Nehme family separated from New Jersey to Lebanon trying to get home. Thank you to them.

Well, if you're an American in Lebanon and need help getting out, you can call -- here are some numbers we have for you, 0-1-202-501- 4444. And if you're in the U.S. and have loved ones in Lebanon, you can call 1-888-407-4747. And I know we throw those numbers up and it might take you by surprise there, but we will be putting them up periodically throughout the hour. So if you do need those numbers, get a pencil handy and we'll get you the next time around.

Meanwhile, let's bring in my colleague Tony Harris.

Tony, you're working on with cnn.com to bring some more personal stories.

TONY HARRIS, CNN CORRESPONDENT: Absolutely. Did you hear the love in that call? Did you feel the love in that call?

KAGAN: The love.

HARRIS: That's great.

KAGAN: And I love the 16-year-old daughter telling mom, don't worry.

HARRIS: It's going to be OK.

KAGAN: I think it is harder. I think it is harder for mom in New Jersey. HARRIS: Oh, I totally agree with that.

KAGAN: Yes.

HARRIS: Yes, Daryn, as you mentioned, we're working with the folks at cnn.com to bring -- and we're going to sort of rename this sort of a listening post. I've got the international desk behind me here following all the developments and in constant contact with our correspondents in the field. And because of the work being done by our friends at cnn.com, we're getting a ton of e-mails from folks who are in the affected region, and also people here in the states who have family members and friends who are in the region who are sending us all kinds of e-mails. Let me read a couple for you, Daryn.

Natalie from Denver writes, "a week into this conflict and I am still waiting to hear back from the American Embassy. The lines are constantly busy and if you are lucky to get through, they put you on hold. All the other countries" -- we hear this a lot, Daryn -- "have or are in the process of evacuating their citizens, and we are still waiting. I hope this response will be better than that of Katrina."

The Esseily family, I believe that's close, from Dana Point, California, has sent along first this picture. Let's see the picture first. And then we'll get to the e-mail. Do we have the picture? Let me read the e-mail. "We have been stuck in Beirut for seven days now. We need the American Embassy to get organized and get us out." Here's the picture.

"We are among the lucky Americans. We are in a safe place. Mentally our nerves are wearing thin. Constant bombing. The noise is driving us mad! No word from the embassy. Only get outside information on what's happening via our family who cal us from America. It hurts me to see all the other countries leaving. Please get us out. We want to go home!"

And can we go back to that picture for just a moment? OK. It will take a second to get back to that picture but just want to give you -- look at the signs they're holding up. Sort of what -- with whatever they have, Daryn, just making signs. No calls, no e-mails. Where are you, America? Embassy, where are you? One American family stuck and ready to go.

And this from N. in from New York who writes, "I think many more Americans than the 70 that were evacuated want to leave, and my 68- year-old father is one of them. He has been registered with the U.S. embassy (by e-mail) since Friday, yet has not heard from them, except for auto-generated/useless e-mail non-updates. He has tried calling and faxing but there is no answer. The U.S. State Department emergency hotline, whose number has been freely given out as though they actually want people to call, is useless. First you spend two days being disconnected, then if you get connected, you spend maybe an hour on hold. When you speak to someone, as I did today, they tell you to register with the embassy. Their website is equally dismal. I have to say it's really depressing to be embarrassed by the French, who have already evacuated 900 of their citizens plus 50 of our on. Evacuation seems not to be our forte. I'd almost laugh, expect it's my dad. And it's my country that's failing its citizens again."

And, Daryn, it's clear this evacuation couldn't happen fast enough for a lot of folks who are in harm's way. But it is a little disturbing to see that after, what, seven days of this fighting people are starting to equate the American response to this evacuation to Katrina.

KAGAN: Yes. And then we hear different experiences, like this 16-year-old we were just talking to.

HARRIS: Yes.

KAGAN: She says she's getting regular updates from the embassy.

HARRIS: Yes.

KAGAN: And she said she feels well informed. So probably for every person going through it, it's a different experience.

HARRIS: It's different. It's a different story.

KAGAN: But frustrating and scary all the way around.

Tony, thank you.

HARRIS: Sure thing.

KAGAN: We'll check back with you.

And, of course, we're going to continue to keep an eye on developments in the Middle East as efforts to evacuate Americans shift into higher gear.

Also today, all across America, the heat is on with people across the nation doing their best to keep cool. Some areas could soon be getting a break. Details ahead with Chad Myers from our new weather center. Wait until you take this tour. The most trusted name in news.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

KAGAN: We are at the half hour. Let's update you on what we know in the seventh day of fighting in the Mideast. 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 about 25,000 Americans in Lebanon.

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