- Title: IRAQ: UNITED STATES FORCES LAUNCH OPERATION TO CRACKDOWN ON ARMED RESISTANCE
- Date: 1st July 2003
- Summary: (W4) SHAHRABAN, 80 KILOMETRES NORTHEAST BAGHDAD, IRAQ (JUNE 30, 2003) (REUTERS) 1. MV UNITED STATES (U.S.) SOLDIER POINTING GUN; SLV U.S. SOLDIER WALKING IN STREET WITH TANK FOLLOWING; SLV WALKING THROUGH VILLAGE; MV U.S. SOLDIERS KNOCKING AT GATE AND ENTERING (5 SHOTS) 0.30 2. SCI CHILDREN CRYING; MV IRAQI MEN LOOKING AT TROOPS; SLV TROOPS COMING OUT OF HOUSE (4 SHOTS) 0.45 3. SCU /SLV LIEUTENANT KURT CHAPMAN SCOUTS PLATOON LEADER 367 SCOUTS FOUR INFANTRY DIVISION AT SCENE 0.52 4. SOUNDBITE (English) CHAPMAN SAYING "We have had a couple of ambushes in this area. A couple of our tanks got hit last night, a humvee from my platoon was hit a couple of night before that, so what we are doing is searching the area for possible ambush sites." 1.05 5. WIDE OF AREA; CUTAWAY OF SOLDIERS POINTING TO HOUSES 1.18 6. (SOUNDBITE) (English) LT. KURT CHAPMAN SAYING "Right as we were finishing our search up here we saw a couple of individuals with RPGs running in to this village, running into the houses. The local people in the town told us that they went into this house or maybe this house. That is what we are searching right now." 1.28 7. MV SOLDIERS SEARCHING IN HOUSE (3 SHOTS) 1.58 8. SLV ARMY PULLING OUT OF VILLAGE; SLV TANKS MOVING NORTH (3 SHOTS) 2.27 (W3) AL-DOURA, SOUTH OF BAGHDAD, IRAQ (JUNE 30, 2003) (REUTERS) 9. MV SOLDIER AIMING; SLV TROOPS WALKING IN STREET (3 SHOTS) 2.42 10. (SOUNDBITE) (English) ADAM CARSON, FROM 82ND AIRBORNE DIVISION SAYING "We are in the al Doura district in Baghdad, searching through cordon and search missions for weapons and weapons caches of the neighbourhoods. We are also providing civil affairs projects like cleaning up garbage and clearing up sewage problems within this sector." 3.04 11. SCU WEAPONS FOUND; MV SOLDIERS HOLDING WEAPON FOUND; SCU BAG FULL OF BULLETS FOUND; SLV TROOPS LEAVING AREA (7 SHOTS) 3.46 Initials Script is copyright Reuters Limited. All rights reserved
- Embargoed: 16th July 2003 13:00
- Keywords:
- Location: AL-DOURA, SOUTH OF BAGHDAD AND SHAHRABAN, 80 KILOMETRES NORTHEAST BAGHDAD, IRAQ
- Country: Iraq
- Reuters ID: LVABOGSL2HJI9MJLTON1NQKQY43C
- Story Text: U.S. forces have launched an operation to crack down on
armed resistance blamed on die-hard supporters of the toppled
Iraqi leader. They have also stepped up search operations for
weapons and Saddam loyalists south of the capital, following a
series of hit-and-run attacks which killed several Americans.
American troops backed by warplanes and armoured vehicles
launched "Operation Sidewinder" on Sunday (June 29, 2003)
to eliminate armed resistance in areas north of Baghdad where
Saddam once enjoyed wide support.
U.S. forces, who have come under fire almost daily in
recent weeks in mainly Sunni Muslim central Iraq, detained
more than 60 people and seized weapons and military documents
as part of the crackdown.
"We have had a couple of ambushes in this area. A couple
of our tanks got hit last night, a humvee from my platoon was
hit a couple of night before that, so what we are doing is
searching the area for possible ambush sites," said Lieutenant
Kurt Chapman, a Scouts Platoon Leader.
The sight of the soldiers entering their premises
frightened some children to tears as residents in the area
watched the search operation unfold.
"Right as we were finishing our search up here we saw a
couple of individuals with RPGs running in to this village,
running into the houses. The local people in the town told us
that they went into this house or maybe this house. That is
what we are searching right now," Chapman said.
Searches were also stepped up south of the capital, around
military posts, U.S.-led administration offices and ministry
buildings in Baghdad, witnesses said.
Forces have also been hunting for Saddam loyalists in
their search for weapons after a series of attacks on U.S. and
British soldiers.
In the latest of a series of hit-and-run attacks, an Iraqi
civilian was killed and two U.S. military police were wounded
in Baghdad when an explosion targeted a U.S. convoy.
The United States blames remnants of Saddam's Fedayeen
paramilitary force and his Baath Party for the raids. But many
Iraqis have warned of widespread discontent if Washington does
not quickly restore government to Iraqi hands and rebuild the
war-battered nation.
At least 22 Americans have been killed by hostile fire
since U.S. President George W. Bush declared major combat
over.
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