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American Morning
Update on War Progress
Aired April 02, 2003 - 09:02 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.
PAULA ZAHN, ANCHOR: I'm Paula Zahn in New York. At this hour, we are watching U.S. ground troops move even closer to Baghdad. And if they haven't crossed the so-called red zone already, we understand they are close. CNN reporter Karl Penhaul is reporting U.S. forces southwest of Baghdad expect to cross into the southern edge of the Iraqi capital by nightfall.
Penhaul says U.S. Apache attack helicopters from the Army's 5th Corps have been able to fly over and pass the city of Karbala. Tanks and Bradley fighting vehicles from the Army's 3rd Infantry Division are accompanying the air unit on the ground.
Now, about 100 miles to the east Marines have seized a key bridge over the Tigris River near the city of Kut. CENTCOM tells us that the constantly bombardment has badly damaged Republican Guard units. And in fact, the Baghdad unit of the Republican Guard is said to have been wiped out.
There is a lot to take on during this very busy morning. I'm going to bring in my colleague Bill Hemmer, who's standing by in Kuwait City. He has a whole lot more. Bill, good morning.
BILL HEMMER, ANCHOR: Hello again, Paula. War of words right now on a few religious shrines in Iraq. Iraq is now saying that coalition forces are deliberately trying to damage some holy sites.
CENTCOM says that in the town of Najaf, coalition forces have come under fire from troops inside the Ali mosque but have not returned fire in order to protect that shrine.
In northern Iraq, CNN's Kevin Sites says that Iraqi troops were using another mosque, this one holy to Kurds, as a storage site for hundreds of land mines. According to the mine advisory group, there may have been 10 million to 12 million mines planted by the Iraqis in Kurdish territory, most before the year 1992.
Two Navy F-14 pilots bailed out at 20,000 feet over southwestern Iraq after their fighter suffered mechanical failure while refueling. The pilots slightly injured. They were retrieved by a search and rescue helicopter.
Meanwhile, here in Kuwait, the buildup continues yesterday and again today. Members of the 4th Infantry Division now off loading at a local port. The 4th ID getting ready for duty not just in Kuwait but in the north, in Iraq, as well.
Paula, more in a moment. Back to you now. ZAHN: Thanks, Bill.
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 April 2, 2003 - 09:02 ET
THIS IS A RUSH TRANSCRIPT. THIS COPY MAY NOT BE IN ITS FINAL FORM AND MAY BE UPDATED.
PAULA ZAHN, ANCHOR: I'm Paula Zahn in New York. At this hour, we are watching U.S. ground troops move even closer to Baghdad. And if they haven't crossed the so-called red zone already, we understand they are close. CNN reporter Karl Penhaul is reporting U.S. forces southwest of Baghdad expect to cross into the southern edge of the Iraqi capital by nightfall.
Penhaul says U.S. Apache attack helicopters from the Army's 5th Corps have been able to fly over and pass the city of Karbala. Tanks and Bradley fighting vehicles from the Army's 3rd Infantry Division are accompanying the air unit on the ground.
Now, about 100 miles to the east Marines have seized a key bridge over the Tigris River near the city of Kut. CENTCOM tells us that the constantly bombardment has badly damaged Republican Guard units. And in fact, the Baghdad unit of the Republican Guard is said to have been wiped out.
There is a lot to take on during this very busy morning. I'm going to bring in my colleague Bill Hemmer, who's standing by in Kuwait City. He has a whole lot more. Bill, good morning.
BILL HEMMER, ANCHOR: Hello again, Paula. War of words right now on a few religious shrines in Iraq. Iraq is now saying that coalition forces are deliberately trying to damage some holy sites.
CENTCOM says that in the town of Najaf, coalition forces have come under fire from troops inside the Ali mosque but have not returned fire in order to protect that shrine.
In northern Iraq, CNN's Kevin Sites says that Iraqi troops were using another mosque, this one holy to Kurds, as a storage site for hundreds of land mines. According to the mine advisory group, there may have been 10 million to 12 million mines planted by the Iraqis in Kurdish territory, most before the year 1992.
Two Navy F-14 pilots bailed out at 20,000 feet over southwestern Iraq after their fighter suffered mechanical failure while refueling. The pilots slightly injured. They were retrieved by a search and rescue helicopter.
Meanwhile, here in Kuwait, the buildup continues yesterday and again today. Members of the 4th Infantry Division now off loading at a local port. The 4th ID getting ready for duty not just in Kuwait but in the north, in Iraq, as well.
Paula, more in a moment. Back to you now. ZAHN: Thanks, Bill.
TO ORDER A VIDEO OF THIS TRANSCRIPT, PLEASE CALL 800-CNN-NEWS OR USE OUR SECURE ONLINE ORDER FORM LOCATED AT www.fdch.com
