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Syria: US attack a serious aggression

Written by Administrator

Monday, 27 October 2008

Syria condemns a lethal US raid on its soil as 'serious aggression' while Washington says the attack was meant to send a message to Damascus.

Syria summoned the US charges d'affaires in Damascus to protest against the incident.

US military helicopters on Sunday attacked a farm near the Iraqi border, which according to Syria killed eight civilians, including four children and their parents.

Four US helicopters attacked a civilian building under construction shortly before sundown and fired on workers inside, a Syrian government statement said.

The building is located in al-Sukkariya farm near the town of Abu Kamal, five miles inside the Syrian border.

However, a US military official claims the raid by special forces targeted the network of al-Qaeda-linked foreign fighters moving through Syria into Iraq.

The official, speaking to The Associated Press on condition of anonymity, said the special forces action within Syrian territory close to the Iraqi border, was meant to send a message. The Americans have been unable to shut the network down in the area because Syria was out of the military's reach.

"We are taking matters into our own hands," the official told The Associated Press in Washington.

The Syrian government has urged Iraq to carry out an immediate investigation and to ensure that Iraq is not used for aggression against Syria.

"Syria condemns this aggression and holds the American forces responsible for this aggression and all its repercussions. Syria also calls on the Iraqi government to shoulder its responsibilities and launch and immediate investigation into this serious violation and prevent the use of Iraqi territory for aggression against Syria," the government statement said.

The US military in Baghdad did not immediately respond to a request for comment after Sunday's raid.

MSH/DT