Return to Transcripts main page
Breaking News
Shooting Occurred on Island Off Kuwait
Aired October 08, 2002 - 08:39 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.
BILL HEMMER, CNN ANCHOR: Tracking that story out of Kuwait this morning as well, apparently U.S. Marines involved in some short of shootout on the island off the coast of Kuwait City.
From Kuwait City now, CNN's producer Hugh Williams by telephone.
And, Hugh, not sure what you've tracked down just yet, but what information do you have regarding this?
HUGH WILLIAMS, CNN PRODUCER: Yes. Well, Bill, right now I'm hearing new reports there that there is a total of now two U.S. soldiers that have been injured in a shooting incident on Failaka Island. Now that's an island about 30 kilometers off the coast of Kuwait, which is a sealed island, where United States troops are currently undergoing training exercises in an operation called "Eager Mace." The troops involved, U.S. Navy and Marine forces in coordination with Kuwaiti forces during this two-week exercise.
Apparently, the information we have is that a civilian vehicle with two occupants fired upon U.S. troops. There was an exchange of fire. There's no confirmation of the identities of those that were alleged to be killed in the incident. The details are still coming from the Kuwaiti military, but there's also still a lot of confusion as to exactly how this happened, whether it was within the context of the exercises themselves, accidental or perhaps a direct attack on the U.S. troops -- Bill.
HEMMER: Hugh, quickly here, I'm not sure if you can answer this. Failaka Island, just off the coast there in Kuwait. Is it inhabited by a lot of people? Do you have any information on how many folks live there at all?
WILLIAMS: Well, it's not a very populated place. There's a lot of ancient, old ruins there, and for these exercises, they've chosen it as a location because it can be sealed from civilian access, thus providing security for the forces training there. Plus, it has the obvious location for practicing amphibious landings, and that is exactly what is happening at the time being.
So there's confusion as to why there would be a civilian vehicle on the island if this indeed is a secure site.
Hugh, thanks. Hugh Williams, our producer in Kuwait City, tracking that story.
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 October 8, 2002 - 08:39 ET
THIS IS A RUSH TRANSCRIPT. THIS COPY MAY NOT BE IN ITS FINAL FORM AND MAY BE UPDATED.
BILL HEMMER, CNN ANCHOR: Tracking that story out of Kuwait this morning as well, apparently U.S. Marines involved in some short of shootout on the island off the coast of Kuwait City.
From Kuwait City now, CNN's producer Hugh Williams by telephone.
And, Hugh, not sure what you've tracked down just yet, but what information do you have regarding this?
HUGH WILLIAMS, CNN PRODUCER: Yes. Well, Bill, right now I'm hearing new reports there that there is a total of now two U.S. soldiers that have been injured in a shooting incident on Failaka Island. Now that's an island about 30 kilometers off the coast of Kuwait, which is a sealed island, where United States troops are currently undergoing training exercises in an operation called "Eager Mace." The troops involved, U.S. Navy and Marine forces in coordination with Kuwaiti forces during this two-week exercise.
Apparently, the information we have is that a civilian vehicle with two occupants fired upon U.S. troops. There was an exchange of fire. There's no confirmation of the identities of those that were alleged to be killed in the incident. The details are still coming from the Kuwaiti military, but there's also still a lot of confusion as to exactly how this happened, whether it was within the context of the exercises themselves, accidental or perhaps a direct attack on the U.S. troops -- Bill.
HEMMER: Hugh, quickly here, I'm not sure if you can answer this. Failaka Island, just off the coast there in Kuwait. Is it inhabited by a lot of people? Do you have any information on how many folks live there at all?
WILLIAMS: Well, it's not a very populated place. There's a lot of ancient, old ruins there, and for these exercises, they've chosen it as a location because it can be sealed from civilian access, thus providing security for the forces training there. Plus, it has the obvious location for practicing amphibious landings, and that is exactly what is happening at the time being.
So there's confusion as to why there would be a civilian vehicle on the island if this indeed is a secure site.
Hugh, thanks. Hugh Williams, our producer in Kuwait City, tracking that story.
TO ORDER A VIDEO OF THIS TRANSCRIPT, PLEASE CALL 800-CNN-NEWS OR USE OUR SECURE ONLINE ORDER FORM LOCATED AT www.fdch.com
