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CNN Sunday Morning
U.S. Soldier Killed By Roadside Bomb
Aired December 28, 2003 - 08:07 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: More violence in Iraq today. The U.S. lost another soldier in a roadside bomb attack.
CNN's Satinder Bindra has the very latest now live from Baghdad -- Satinder.
SATINDER BINDRA, CNN CORRESPONDENT: Good morning, Heidi.
This bomb went off here in Baghdad about six hours ago. It exploded in a commercial district called Karadah. Now, one U.S. soldier was killed. Also killed in this incident, two Iraqi children. Five U.S. soldiers were wounded. Also wounded, eight members of Iraq's Civil Defense Corps. A U.S. general has described this incident as "a reckless act" by former regime elements who he says wanted to "make a media splash."
Now, with this incident, 12 U.S. soldiers have been killed fighting insurgents this week alone.
Heidi, back to you.
COLLINS: Can you give us the very latest as well, Satinder, about what happened in Karbala? The amount of explosives used in those attacks, very significant.
BINDRA: That's right. This morning, Heidi, we've obtained some amateur video, and what we know is these insurgents launched three separate strikes. Now, they used a variety of means to launch these strikes against coalition forces. They used mortars. They used rockets. They also used car bombs. And each car bomb contained approximately 1,000 to 1,500 pound of explosives. At least 12 Iraqi civilians and Iraqi police officials were killed. Six coalition troops were also killed. About 35 coalition troops were also injured in this incident.
Now, we know the nationality of those killed. Four of the troops killed were Bulgarians, and two where Thais.
Heidi, back to you.
COLLINS: Satinder, I just want to ask you quickly about something I'm reading here. Is there a possibility -- we've heard a little from military officials suggesting that some of the Iraqi civilians may could have been -- or, possibly could have been involved in this attack as well.
BINDRA: Some -- did I hear you said Iraqi civilians could have been involved in this attack?
COLLINS: Yes.
BINDRA: Well, at the moment what military sources are saying for sure is these are insurgents who launched this attack. There's been some talk of -- quote -- "foreign fighters" being involved, but that's been very general talk. So far there's been no evidence that's been provided by the military to the media to prove their case.
But what is for sure, and this according to military officials, is these were insurgents; there were insurgents who have been battling coalition forces for some time now. What we've also seen is, in the past couple of weeks, most of the attacks have been centered here in Baghdad and just north. But now these attacks are happening just south of the country as well -- Heidi.
COLLINS: And my apologies, Satinder. Indeed I was speaking of Iranian citizens here that I'm looking at on the wires. We will continue to look into that and make sure that we report it just as soon as we get any confirmation of that.
Thanks so much, Satinder Bindra in Baghdad.
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 December 28, 2003 - 08:07 ET
THIS IS A RUSH TRANSCRIPT. THIS COPY MAY NOT BE IN ITS FINAL FORM AND MAY BE UPDATED.
HEIDI COLLINS, CNN ANCHOR: More violence in Iraq today. The U.S. lost another soldier in a roadside bomb attack.
CNN's Satinder Bindra has the very latest now live from Baghdad -- Satinder.
SATINDER BINDRA, CNN CORRESPONDENT: Good morning, Heidi.
This bomb went off here in Baghdad about six hours ago. It exploded in a commercial district called Karadah. Now, one U.S. soldier was killed. Also killed in this incident, two Iraqi children. Five U.S. soldiers were wounded. Also wounded, eight members of Iraq's Civil Defense Corps. A U.S. general has described this incident as "a reckless act" by former regime elements who he says wanted to "make a media splash."
Now, with this incident, 12 U.S. soldiers have been killed fighting insurgents this week alone.
Heidi, back to you.
COLLINS: Can you give us the very latest as well, Satinder, about what happened in Karbala? The amount of explosives used in those attacks, very significant.
BINDRA: That's right. This morning, Heidi, we've obtained some amateur video, and what we know is these insurgents launched three separate strikes. Now, they used a variety of means to launch these strikes against coalition forces. They used mortars. They used rockets. They also used car bombs. And each car bomb contained approximately 1,000 to 1,500 pound of explosives. At least 12 Iraqi civilians and Iraqi police officials were killed. Six coalition troops were also killed. About 35 coalition troops were also injured in this incident.
Now, we know the nationality of those killed. Four of the troops killed were Bulgarians, and two where Thais.
Heidi, back to you.
COLLINS: Satinder, I just want to ask you quickly about something I'm reading here. Is there a possibility -- we've heard a little from military officials suggesting that some of the Iraqi civilians may could have been -- or, possibly could have been involved in this attack as well.
BINDRA: Some -- did I hear you said Iraqi civilians could have been involved in this attack?
COLLINS: Yes.
BINDRA: Well, at the moment what military sources are saying for sure is these are insurgents who launched this attack. There's been some talk of -- quote -- "foreign fighters" being involved, but that's been very general talk. So far there's been no evidence that's been provided by the military to the media to prove their case.
But what is for sure, and this according to military officials, is these were insurgents; there were insurgents who have been battling coalition forces for some time now. What we've also seen is, in the past couple of weeks, most of the attacks have been centered here in Baghdad and just north. But now these attacks are happening just south of the country as well -- Heidi.
COLLINS: And my apologies, Satinder. Indeed I was speaking of Iranian citizens here that I'm looking at on the wires. We will continue to look into that and make sure that we report it just as soon as we get any confirmation of that.
Thanks so much, Satinder Bindra in Baghdad.
TO ORDER A VIDEO OF THIS TRANSCRIPT, PLEASE CALL 800-CNN-NEWS OR USE OUR SECURE ONLINE ORDER FORM LOCATED AT www.fdch.com
