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American Morning

More Attacks in Iraq

Aired July 01, 2003 - 07:03   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: To Iraq now. There have been several attacks today against American forces. There are conflicting stories, though, about what happened at the mosque in Fallujah. And in two separate attacks, U.S. military vehicles in Baghdad were hit by rocket-propelled grenades.
Jane Arraf is in Baghdad this morning and joins us now live.

Hello -- Jane.

JANE ARRAF, CNN BAGHDAD BUREAU CHIEF: Hello, Heidi.

Well, it's always difficult to untangle what exactly happened after the fact until some time passes, but what happened in central Baghdad outside the gates of the university this morning seems pretty clear. Eyewitnesses tell us that on this crowded street very close to the university, very close to a gas station with cars backed up for blocks and blocks behind it, two U.S. armored vehicles were passing by, two Humvees. As a vehicle approached them, the sunroof opened and someone hurled a rocket-propelled grenade at them.

In the end, three soldiers were injured, their Iraqi interpreter killed. Two of the soldiers were said to be seriously injured, taken away in critical condition. The condition of the third is unknown.

Now, in another attack on the western outskirts of Baghdad in a neighborhood called Abugrabe (ph), another military vehicle came under RPG attack as well. That soldier was wounded, according to military officials. And it's the second attack in that neighborhood in two days.

In Fallujah, where they're still trying to sort out why there was a major explosion either in or immediately next to a mosque late last night, there's continuing anger over U.S. troops being there and the deaths in that explosion. An undetermined number of Iraqis have died in the explosion. Now, some bystanders, some witnesses there are blaming it on U.S. forces. The U.S. says they're investigating exactly what happened. But one of their patrol centers came under attack after that explosion occurred by residents enraged that people had died -- Heidi.

COLLINS: Obviously, Jane, Fallujah has really been a hotbed for these different attacks that we have seen over recent days. Any idea of what the soldiers are thinking in their minds about morale? Any word on that?

ARRAF: It's really not good. They are desperate, desperate to get out. Almost all of them that we've talked to feel a very strong sense of duty. Obviously they are there for a reason, and a lot of them say to us they're really happy and grateful that they can serve, and they feel that they're doing a good thing here. But we seemed to have crossed that line between the satisfaction that they have been getting and feeling they're a part in rebuilding this country, and just plain danger out there on the streets.

They are a lot more nervous than they were a little while ago. A lot of them feel very keenly that they really want to get home safe, and there's an increasing danger, in their minds, that they won't. It's really a very difficult situation.

Some of them have been here for months. Many can't talk to their families. They're really quite cut off because of logistics in the communications. It's the middle of the summer, incredibly hot and it is just not a good situation. Morale has to suffer under those circumstances -- Heidi.

COLLINS: Jane Arraf live this morning from Baghdad. 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 July 1, 2003 - 07:03   ET
THIS IS A RUSH TRANSCRIPT. THIS COPY MAY NOT BE IN ITS FINAL FORM AND MAY BE UPDATED.
HEIDI COLLINS, CNN ANCHOR: To Iraq now. There have been several attacks today against American forces. There are conflicting stories, though, about what happened at the mosque in Fallujah. And in two separate attacks, U.S. military vehicles in Baghdad were hit by rocket-propelled grenades.
Jane Arraf is in Baghdad this morning and joins us now live.

Hello -- Jane.

JANE ARRAF, CNN BAGHDAD BUREAU CHIEF: Hello, Heidi.

Well, it's always difficult to untangle what exactly happened after the fact until some time passes, but what happened in central Baghdad outside the gates of the university this morning seems pretty clear. Eyewitnesses tell us that on this crowded street very close to the university, very close to a gas station with cars backed up for blocks and blocks behind it, two U.S. armored vehicles were passing by, two Humvees. As a vehicle approached them, the sunroof opened and someone hurled a rocket-propelled grenade at them.

In the end, three soldiers were injured, their Iraqi interpreter killed. Two of the soldiers were said to be seriously injured, taken away in critical condition. The condition of the third is unknown.

Now, in another attack on the western outskirts of Baghdad in a neighborhood called Abugrabe (ph), another military vehicle came under RPG attack as well. That soldier was wounded, according to military officials. And it's the second attack in that neighborhood in two days.

In Fallujah, where they're still trying to sort out why there was a major explosion either in or immediately next to a mosque late last night, there's continuing anger over U.S. troops being there and the deaths in that explosion. An undetermined number of Iraqis have died in the explosion. Now, some bystanders, some witnesses there are blaming it on U.S. forces. The U.S. says they're investigating exactly what happened. But one of their patrol centers came under attack after that explosion occurred by residents enraged that people had died -- Heidi.

COLLINS: Obviously, Jane, Fallujah has really been a hotbed for these different attacks that we have seen over recent days. Any idea of what the soldiers are thinking in their minds about morale? Any word on that?

ARRAF: It's really not good. They are desperate, desperate to get out. Almost all of them that we've talked to feel a very strong sense of duty. Obviously they are there for a reason, and a lot of them say to us they're really happy and grateful that they can serve, and they feel that they're doing a good thing here. But we seemed to have crossed that line between the satisfaction that they have been getting and feeling they're a part in rebuilding this country, and just plain danger out there on the streets.

They are a lot more nervous than they were a little while ago. A lot of them feel very keenly that they really want to get home safe, and there's an increasing danger, in their minds, that they won't. It's really a very difficult situation.

Some of them have been here for months. Many can't talk to their families. They're really quite cut off because of logistics in the communications. It's the middle of the summer, incredibly hot and it is just not a good situation. Morale has to suffer under those circumstances -- Heidi.

COLLINS: Jane Arraf live this morning from Baghdad. 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.