Iran condemns US troops raid on Syria

27 October 2008

Tehran-Foreign Ministry spokesman, Hassan Qashqavi, condemned on Monday the US troops raid on Syria from Iraq calling it unacceptable.

American helicopter-borne troops from Iraq launched an assault on a residential area on Sunday in the Syrian village of Al-Sukkiraya which lies just eight kilometres from the border.

Eight civilians were killed in the attack.

"Iran condemns in strongest term any form of aggression or violation of the states' territorial integrity which leads to the death of innocent civilians," Qashqavi told reporters at his weekly press conference.

He expressed deep sorrow over the death of the Syrian people who were reportedly a father and his four children, as well as a couple and another man.

Syria's official news agency (SANA) said that Damascus has summoned the official US and Iraqi representatives in protest to the attack.

The US military officials in Iraq said in a statement that they did not have "any knowledge" about the aggression.

Commentary:
The State of Palestine also condemns the attack by US military from Iraq or any action that cause’s the death’s of civilians, which is also against International Laws, as well as the laws of the Geneva Convention and such a situation as this can be considered an act of aggression on the US's part for Syria to declare an act of war on the US.

As to my understanding, the US military had no justifiable reason to commit such an act as this; against Syria.

Furthermore, within the US media, they harassed citizens of Palestine within there propaganda on this situation which also a very dim view was taken by the Palestine government, because we had no part in this situation in any manner, it can also be considered not just insulting; but contrary to real stance that the US attacked Syria.

Nevertheless, it is our wish for the Syrian people to know, that the People of Palestine has there hearts out in sorrow; for those martyrs from the attack, yesterday and that this situation is not far from our thoughts.

Update:
Syrians Hold Funerals on a Day of Mixed Feelings

Families in this village near the Iraqi border buried loved ones Monday who were killed when the U.S. military launched am attack in Syrian territory. During the funerals, angry residents shouted anti-American slogans and carried banners reading: "Down with Bush and the American enemy."

A U.S. military official in Washington confirmed Sunday that special forces had conducted a raid in Syria that allegedly targeted the network of al-Qaida-linked foreign fighters moving through Syria into Iraq.

"We are taking matters into our own hands," the official told The Associated Press, speaking on condition of anonymity because of the political sensitivity of cross-border raids.

In Sukkariyeh, villager Jumaa Ahmad al-Hamad told The Associated Press he was walking Sunday when he saw four helicopters, two of which landed.

"Shooting then started ringing for more than 10 minutes," al-Hamad said Monday. After the helicopters stopped firing and left the area, he and other villagers went to the site and discovered the bodies of his uncle, Dawoud al-Hamad, and four of his uncle's sons, who he said were killed in the raid.

Syria called the raid a "serious aggression," and its Foreign Ministry summoned the charges d'affaires of the United States and Iraq in protest.

Syrian parliament member Suleiman Hadad called the raid "a last-ditch hit by the defeated and desperate" Bush administration, which is trying to "restore some of its lost dignity in the region."
Government newspapers also published scathing criticisms in Monday's editions. Tishrin splashed its front pages with a headline denouncing the raid as a "U.S. war crime," while the Al-Baath newspaper described the attack in an editorial as a "stunning, shocking and unprecedented adventure."

"Even while it's preparing itself to leave the White House, the Bush administration seems determined to demonstrate its foolishness, and this is a dangerous indication of political madness and stupid arrogance," Al-Baath said.

"We are trying to contain the fallout from the incident," Iraqi Foreign Ministry undersecretary Labid Abbawi said. "It is regrettable and we are sorry it happened."

Some Iraqi officials warned that the U.S. military raid into Syria could be used by opponents of a security pact under negotiation with the United States.

"Now neighboring countries have a good reason to be concerned about the continued U.S. presence in Iraq," prominent Kurdish politician Mahmoud Othman told The Associated Press.

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In reading some of the media headlines, that Syria consider's this attack and act of terrorism; on the part of the United States.