“Syria condemns this aggressive act and holds American forces responsible for this aggression and all of its repercussions.” A “developing situation.”
“‘US troops’ strike inside Syria,” from the BBC, October 26 (thanks to Paul):
US helicopter-borne troops have carried out a raid inside Syria along the Iraqi border, killing eight people including four children, Syrian officials say.
The official Syrian news agency Sana said the raid took place in the Abu Kamal border area, in eastern Syria.
It said that American soldiers on four helicopters had stormed a building under construction on Sunday night.
The US says it is investigating. It has previously accused Syria of allowing foreign militants into Iraq.
Syria has summoned the US and Iraqi envoys in Damascus to protest at the raid.
“Syria condemns this aggressive act and holds American forces responsible for this aggression and all of its repercussions,” a government official said….
Its timing is curious, coming right at the end of the Bush administration’s period of office and at a moment when many of America’s European allies – like Britain and France – are trying to broaden their ties with Damascus, our correspondent adds….
“Four American helicopters violated Syrian airspace around 1645 local time [1345 GMT] on Sunday,” Sana said.
“American soldiers” emerged from helicopters and “attacked a civilian building under construction and opened fire on workers inside – including the wife of the building guard – leading to [the deaths] of eight civilians”, it added.
“The helicopters then left Syrian territory towards Iraqi territory,” Sana said.
The dead include a man, his four children and a married couple, the Syrian report said, without giving details of the children’s ages….