U.S. Troops Thwart Iraqi Ambush Attempt
KELLY WALLACE, CNN ANCHOR: But we begin with a developing story out of northern Iraq, where U.S. forces have thwarted an ambush attempt against at least one U.S. military convoy. As we have told you, U.S. forces killed 46 Iraqi rebels in northern Iraq and wounded 18. Eight rebels have been captured. Five U.S. soldiers were wounded in the attack. Let's get the latest from our senior correspondent in Baghdad, Walter Rodgers. Walter, what's the latest information you have right now?</s>WALTER RODGERS, CNN SENIOR INTERNATIONAL CORRESPONDENT: Hello, Kelly. The U.S. army's fourth infantry division was sending two convoys, a logistical supply convoy on 2 parallel tracks through the town of Sammarra, that's 75 miles north of Baghdad. Again, 2 convoys taking 2 separate routes through the city. Suddenly, at 1:30 in the afternoon, they were pounced upon. It was an ambush, a running fight between the U.S. military convoy and the Iraqi guerrillas, the insurgents, many of who were wearing the black fedayeen guerrilla uniforms signifying they're indeed loyal to Saddam Hussein. The U.S. soldiers fought their way through, smashingly. What happened was, while they were under constant fire, the U.S. army tanks in the convoy, plus the Bradley fighting vehicles simply overpowered the guerrillas. The tanks of course, carry 120 millimeter cannon. Those cannon on board the tanks were trained on the buildings that the Iraqis had been using to stage their ambush from -- again when those 120 millimeter shells from the A1M1 Abrams went off, they collapsed the buildings with the Iraqi insurgents inside. Also Bradley fighting vehicles with their 25 millimeter cannon which will pulverize virtually anything, including another tank. Again, the U.S. soldiers fighting their way through that town. U.S. casualties in this running firefight, actually two running fire fights this afternoon in Sammara: five U.S. soldiers injured, two already released. None of the injuries were life-threatening. It was much more a pummeling for the Iraqi guerrillas, 46 of them were killed. Again, many of those had those black Fedayeen uniforms, indicating they are organized insurgents loyal to Saddam Hussein. Additionally, there were 18 Iraqi insurgents injured. They of course will be questioned, eight others captured as well and they will be questioned. Now, the convoys, by the way, were carrying exchange notes through the town. The U.S. Army is in the process of helping district new Iraqi dinar's, new bank notes, new money here money and collecting the old money. It looked like a ripe and easy target for the insurgents. It turned out to be just the opposite. The Iraqis took a very bloody beating this afternoon in what may be the biggest actual firefight since the end of the war itself in April or May. Now, shortly after that, there was yet another attack on U.S. soldiers in the very same city about an hour later. Again, four Iraqis in a black BMW, they were carrying a rocket propelled grenade which they never got to fire, ALso small armed ammunitions. U.S. soldiers cut open on them. All four of those Iraqis in that BMW were captured. The Iraqis simply could not match the firepower of the U.S. army, they had nothing bigger than mortars, rocket propelled grenades, small arms fire. The U.S. army had huge cannons on their takes, 120 millimeter, plus the 25 millimeters on the Bradley. It was a firefight, this time the Iraqis bit off more than they can chew and they've blood on their hands to prove it.</s>WALLACE: And Walter, of course, looking at this weekend, it has been a tough weekend for the U.S. led coalition forces, seven Spanish intelligence agents were killed, two Japanese diplomats, you had two South Korean power contractors. Is there a concern the sources you're talking to, that these various allied forces are now being targeted one by one to try and prevent them from being Iraq.</s>RODGERS: That's true. And what you saw, according to the Army, prior to this firefight in Samarra, a shift from these hard targets, like these military vehicles to the so-called softer targets, these being vehicles on the road, 2 Japanese diplomats killed Saturday, 2 Korean contractors, private contractors, civilians. Also killed driving along the roads here. And the 7 Spanish intelligence officers. And everyone thought the Iraqis were going to the softer targets. In point of fact, this ambush in Sammarra on the 2 convoys suggested they were willing to take on any target of opportunity whenever they see it. Although after the beating they took on in Sammarra, it may be a while before they take on the army again head to head force on force. And we may indeed see more of what we've seen over the weekend, the attacks on soft targets, the diplomats, the civilian contracters and the intelligence agents like the Spanish -- Kelly.</s>WALLACE: OK, Walter Rodgers reporting with us from the latest from Baghdad. Thank you. We'll be checking with you for any more developments this hour. Walter Rodgers again from Baghdad.