2008 Abu Kamal raid

US attack on militant groups in Syria March 2026 2008 Abu Kamal raid the Iraq War Al-qaim-area.svg The Al-Qa'im/Abu Kamal area on the Iraqi-Syrian border. Special operations Abu Kamal, Syria United States Non-state actor logistics network (according to the US) 2008 10 26 yes Delta ForceCIA's Special Activities Division Disputed 8 killed7 woundedUS forces kill eight in helicopter raid on Syria https://www.theguardian.com/world/2008/oct/27/syria-helicopter-attack The Guardian 2008-10-27 2008-10-27 London Ian Black https://web.archive.org/web/20081028102409/http://www.guardian.co.uk/world/2008/oct/27/syria-helicopter-attack 28 October 2008 live The 2008 Abu Kamal raid was an attack carried out by helicopter-borne CIA paramilitary officers from Special Activities DivisionJonathan S. Landay Youssef, Nancy A. CIA led mystery Syria raid that killed terrorist leader http://www.mcclatchydc.com/255/story/54828.html McClatchy 2008-10-27 2008-10-27 https://web.archive.org/web/20081101041758/http://www.mcclatchydc.com/255/story/54828.html 1 November 2008 dead and United States Special Operations Command, Joint Special Operations Commandhttp://ap.google.com/article/ALeqM5ianwYiLFrnJxFSAgjT1DqydYeinQD942EFR80 US special forces launch rare attack inside of Syria Associated Press 2008-10-26 2008-10-26 https://web.archive.org/web/20081028232559/http://ap.google.com/article/ALeqM5ianwYiLFrnJxFSAgjT1DqydYeinQD942EFR80 October 28, 2008 dead inside Syrian territory on October 26, 2008.https://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/middle_east/7692153.stm 'US troops' strike inside Syria BBC 2008-10-26 2008-10-26 https://web.archive.org/web/20081027004109/http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/middle_east/7692153.stm 27 October 2008 live The Syrian government called the event a "criminal and terrorist" attack on its sovereignty, alleging all of the reported eight fatalities were civilians.https://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/middle_east/7693583.stm Syria hits out at 'terrorist' US BBC 2008-10-27 2008-10-27 https://web.archive.org/web/20081028004117/http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/middle_east/7693583.stm 28 October 2008 live The US cited self-defense under Article 51 of the UN Charter, citing their belief that Syria was responsible for providing "sanctuary to terrorists", as justification for the attack. Background Throughout the Iraq War, Syria had reportedly served as a conduit for foreign fighters intending to enter Iraq to fight the US, coalition, or Iraqi military and police forces. The Los Angeles Times reported that some US officials had complained that militants and their reinforcement and logistics networks have been able to operate openly in Syria and that the Syrian government had not made sufficient effort to stop it.Borzou Daragahi Barnes, Julian E. 8 reportedly killed in U.S. raid inside Syria https://www.latimes.com/news/la-fg-ussyria27-2008oct27,0,897757.story Los Angeles Times 2008-10-27 2008-10-27 https://web.archive.org/web/20081030045902/http://www.latimes.com/news/la-fg-ussyria27-2008oct27%2C0%2C897757.story 30 October 2008 live The New York Times however reported that the timing of the raid was startling partly because American officials have praised the Syrian government in recent months for its efforts to halt traffic across the border.Eric Schmitt Shanker, Thom U.S. Officials Confirm Commando Raid on Syria https://www.nytimes.com/2008/10/28/world/middleeast/28syria.html?hp The New York Times 2008-10-27 2008-10-27 https://web.archive.org/web/20111207184109/http://www.nytimes.com/2008/10/28/world/middleeast/28syria.html?hp December 7, 2011 live The US alleged that the militants flew into Damascus and then, with the help of emplaced networks, travelled across the Syrian border into Iraq, mainly through the city of Ramadi. Syrian President Bashar al-Assad denied these claims, while he admitted some militants do come into Syria through Damascus International Airport without knowledge from Syrian authorities, he claimed that the majority of militants crossed into Syria from the borders of neighboring countries.Assad Defiant On Border Security CBSEye To Eye With Katie Couric Bashar al Assad 2007 YouTube Originally from CBS In the summer of 2007, a US military raid on a suspected al-Qaeda in Iraq house in the Iraqi town of Sinjar, near Syria, yielded documents containing information about alleged Syrian smuggling networks used to move foreign fighters into Iraq. The documents included al-Qaeda in Iraq records of more than 500 foreign fighters who had entered from Syria, according to the Combating Terrorism Center at the US Military Academy, where civilian analysts examined the documents. A July 2008 report on what the documents contained indicated that at least 95 Syrian "coordinators" were involved in facilitating the movement of the foreign fighters into Iraq. The report stated that many of the coordinators were from smuggling families in Bedouin clans and other Syrian tribes. https://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2008/10/27/AR2008102700511.html The Washington Post U.S. Calls Raid a Warning to Syria 2008-10-28 28 October 2008 The documents, however, do not show any signs of any Syrian government involvement in the facilitation of these fighters. Since the US-led invasion of Iraq in 2003, there had been a few reported incidents of the US military firing across the border at targets in Syria. Petraeus again stated in October 2008 that efforts by US and Iraqi forces, as well as by the Syrian government, had cut the number of militants crossing into Iraq from Syria from about 100 a month in early to mid-2007 to 20 a month. Petraeus, however, stated that more needed to be done to halt the flow of militants. In 2008, the US blamed violence in Mosul on foreign fighters from Syria. Syrian permission given pre-attack On October 28, Israeli journalist Ronen Bergman reported that Syrian intelligence had cooperated with the US against al-Qaeda, and that Syria had told the US that it would not intervene in a US strike. Several days later, The Times also reported that the Syrians had agreed to the raid through a backchannel established with the Syrian Air Force Intelligence Directorate. According to the report, after the Syrians gave the U.S. information pertaining to the location of Abu Ghadiya, they agreed to allow the U.S. to apprehend him and take him to Iraq; as such, when Syrian air defenses, on high alert since the Israeli-led Operation Orchard, detected the American helicopters and requested permission to engage them, it was denied. One tribal leader told the paper that an hour and a half after the attack, Syrian intelligence officers came to the area, warning the villagers that if they spoke about what had just occurred, their family members would die. He also claimed that a rocket-propelled grenade had been launched from the compound by one of the militants at the American helicopter.Marie Colvin Mahnaimi, Uzi Questions raised over Syrian complicity in US raid http://www.timesonline.co.uk/tol/news/world/middle_east/article5062848.ece The Times 2008-11-02 2008-11-02 London https://web.archive.org/web/20081116085407/http://www.timesonline.co.uk/tol/news/world/middle_east/article5062848.ece 16 November 2008 dead However, Akram Hamid, a survivor of the raid, said that "No one was shooting at the soldiers." The raid The raid took place in Eastern Syria near Abu Kamal, which is near the Iraqi border city of Al-Qa'im. This area was regarded by the U.S. as the main crossing point into Iraq for fighters, money, and equipment in support of the Iraqi insurgency. At some point in time the Central Intelligence Agency confirmed the location of al-Qaeda coordinator Abu Ghadiya, accused of being responsible for much of the smuggling, and suggested the raid be undertaken. According to CNN, US President George W. Bush likely approved the mission.McIntyre, Jamie, The Situation Room, Cable News Network, October 27, 2008. Four American Black Hawk helicopters (other sources say 2 Black Hawk helicopters, who were escorted by 2 AH-6 little bird helicopters)https://foreignpolicy.com/2015/08/31/deltaforce-seals-syria-iraq-terrorism/ Killing Abu Ghadiya foreign policy 21 August 2015 entered Syrian airspace around 16:45 local time on October 26 and deployed roughly two dozen soldiers, who attacked a building under construction in the village of As Sukkariyah, just north of Abu Kamal.Syrian witness reacts to US raid https://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/middle_east/7693053.stm BBC News 2008-10-27 2008-10-27 https://web.archive.org/web/20081031020712/http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/world/middle_east/7693053.stm October 31, 2008 live Sky News reported that two of the four American helicopters landed, allowing 10 US Army Special Forces (other sources say they were Delta Force) soldiers to disembark and storm a building under construction.Syrians Killed In US Border Raid http://news.sky.com/skynews/Home/World-News/US-helicopters-attack-a-Syrian-border-point-with-Iraq-causing-eight-deaths/Article/200810415129094 Sky News 2008-10-26 2008-10-26 The Syrian government stated that the soldiers killed eight civilians, including a man, his four children, and a married couple.http://sana.sy/eng/21/2008/10/26/198617.htm Foreign Ministry Summons US Charge d'Affaires in Damascus, Holds US Administration Responsible for the Dangerous Aggression in Abu Kamal Syrian Arab News Agency 2008-10-26 2008-10-26 https://web.archive.org/web/20081029054700/http://www.sana.sy/eng/21/2008/10/26/198617.htm 29 October 2008 dead dmy-all Journalists reported that the local people say that the victims of the raid were all innocent civilians.Dominic Waghorn Syria 'Gave Green Light For Raid' http://news.sky.com/skynews/Home/World-News/Syria-Helicopter-Attack-Carried-Out-By-US-With-Knowledge-Of-Syrian-Intelligence-Says-Ronen-Bergman/Article/200810415130766?lpos=World_News_Top_Stories_Header_1&lid=ARTICLE_15130766_Syria_Helicopter_Attack_Carried_Out_By_US_With_Knowledge_Of_Syrian_Intelligence%2C_Says_Ronen_Bergman Sky News 2008-10-28 2008-10-28 However, U.S. officials continued to claim that all those killed during the raid were associated with Abu Ghadiya, the operation's target.U.S. Official: No Civilians Killed in Syrian Raid http://www.foxnews.com/story/0,2933,444825,00.html Fox News 2008-10-29 2008-10-31 https://web.archive.org/web/20081030110208/http://www.foxnews.com/story/0%2C2933%2C444825%2C00.html 30 October 2008 live A villager from the area stated that at least two men were seized by the American forces.Hussein Malla Syrian villager says 2 men grabbed in US raid Associated Press 2008-10-27 An eyewitness told the BBC that two of the dead — the married couple — were "very simple people" who "lived in a tent and were being paid to guard building materials such as cement and timber, 24 hours a day. These people will have had nothing to do with the insurgency in Iraq." Syria's official news agency gave the names of the dead as Dahud Mohammed al-Abdullah, his four sons, and Ahmed Khalifeh Ali Abbas al-Hassan and his wife.Griffin, Jennifer, Special Report with Brit Hume, Fox News Channel, October 27, 2008. The US disputed the Syrians' statement of civilian casualties, claiming that all of the people killed in the assault were militants. https://www.nytimes.com/2008/10/31/world/middleeast/31syria.html?partner=rssnyt&emc=rss The New York Times Graham Bowley As if on Cue, Syrians Protest U.S. Incursion on Their Soil 2008-10-31 2 November 2008 Target The target of the raid was said to be a "foreign fighter logistics network".US choppers attack Syrian village near Iraq border http://www.iht.com/articles/2008/10/26/africa/26syria-fw.php International Herald Tribune 2008-10-26 2008-10-26 https://web.archive.org/web/20081029044500/http://www.iht.com/articles/2008/10/26/africa/26syria-fw.php 29 October 2008 livehttp://ca.reuters.com/article/topNews/idCATRE49P2N520081027 https://archive.today/20120723001635/http://ca.reuters.com/article/topNews/idCATRE49P2N520081027 dead July 23, 2012 U.S. says raid in Syria targeted smuggler Reuters 2008-10-27 2008-10-27 A U.S. source told CBS News that "the leader of the foreign fighters, an al-Qaeda officer, was the target of Sunday's cross-border raid." He said the attack was successful but did not say whether or not the al-Qaeda officer was killed.Syria: U.S. Attack Kills 8 In Border Area: Helicopters Raid Farm In Syrian Village; Al Qaeda Officer Was Target Of Rare Cross-Border Attack http://www.cbsnews.com/stories/2008/10/26/world/main4546279.shtml?tag=topStory;topStoryHeadline https://archive.today/20120731181647/http://www.cbsnews.com/stories/2008/10/26/world/main4546279.shtml?tag=topStory;topStoryHeadline dead July 31, 2012 CBS News 2008-10-26 2008-10-26 Fox News later reported that Abu Ghadiya, "Al Qaeda's senior coordinator operating in Syria", was killed in the attackhttp://www.foxnews.com/story/0,2933,444199,00.html U.S. Official: Syrian Strike Killed Al Qaeda Target Fox News 2008-10-27 2008-10-27 https://web.archive.org/web/20081028161019/http://www.foxnews.com/story/0%2C2933%2C444199%2C00.html 28 October 2008 dead dmy-all and The New York Times reported that during the raid the US troops involved killed several armed males who "posed a threat." Very little is known about Abu Ghadiya, the United States Department of the Treasury claimed that he was a Sunni Iraqi born between 1977 and 1979 in Mosul, whose actual name was Badran Turki Hishan al Mazidih.Jonathan S. Landay U.S. officials say Syria raid killed terrorist leader http://www.mcclatchydc.com/151/story/54828.html https://archive.today/20130128101759/http://www.mcclatchydc.com/151/story/54828.html dead 2013-01-28 McClatchy 2008-10-27 2008-10-27 However, other reports claimed that Abu Ghadiya was born in Damascus in 1976 and his real name was Sulayman Khalid Darwish. He graduated from the Damascus University Dentistry School sometime during the 1990s, until he later went to Afghanistan and joined al-Qaeda.Abu al-Ghadia to Build on al-Zarqawi’s Legacy in Iraq Jamestown Foundation Both reports accuse him of working for Iraqi al-Qaeda leader Abu Mus'ab al-Zarqawi and the US claimed he later started working for Abu Ayyub Al-Masri after Zarqawi's death.Treasury Designates Members of Abu Ghadiyah's Network Facilitates flow of terrorists, weapons, and money from Syria to al Qaida in Iraq http://www.ustreas.gov/press/releases/hp845.htm U.S. Department of the Treasury 2008-02-28 2008-10-27 https://web.archive.org/web/20080304030317/http://www.ustreas.gov/press/releases/hp845.htm March 4, 2008 dead The US had reportedly known about Abu Ghadiya for "months or years" and had been pressing the Syrian government to hand over, capture, or kill him.Hess, Pamela, "Syria Raid May Point To New US Posture" Associated Press, October 28, 2008. https://archive.today/20120720221931/http://www.azstarnet.com/sn/news/264471.php 2012-07-20 According to The New York Times, Abu Ghadiya was either killed near his tent or died after being taken by the American troops; his body was flown out of Syria. American officials have stated that Ghadiya was killed in the raid along with several other members of his cell. The Syrian government disputed American claims, stating that these were "lies from the United States" and that the American troops had violated international law and Syrian sovereignty.http://edition.cnn.com/2008/WORLD/meast/10/27/syria.iraq/index.html Al Qaeda was U.S. target in Syrian attack, official says CNN 2008-10-27 2008-10-27 https://web.archive.org/web/20081029024320/http://edition.cnn.com/2008/WORLD/meast/10/27/syria.iraq/index.html October 29, 2008 dead A 2009 investigation by Vanity Fair that interviewed Syrian eyewitnesses, including a man shot during the raid, cast doubt on the Ghadiya assertion. Former Clinton administration official Robert Malley, who met with State Department officials at the time, was quoted in the article affirming that Ghadiya was killed in the raid. However, an al-Qaeda in Iraq obituary released in August 2006 says that Abu Ghadiya was killed by the Saudi-Iraqi border sometime in November 2004.Profile: Abu Ghadiya British Broadcasting Corporation. Furthermore, former CIA officer Robert Baer was highly skeptical, saying, "If they brought back an al-Qaeda body, why don't they have something? There's no conceivable way they would have killed him and not shown it".Reese Erlich Coyote, Peter The Murders at al-Sukariya https://www.vanityfair.com/politics/features/2009/10/al-sukariya-200910?currentPage=1 Vanity Fair 2009-10-22 2009-12-03 https://web.archive.org/web/20091130124344/http://www.vanityfair.com/politics/features/2009/10/al-sukariya-200910?currentPage=1 30 November 2009 dead Reactions US government position The Syrian Government called the raid "terrorist aggression" and a violation of their sovereignty. The Americans defended the action as self-defense under Article 51 of the UN Charter, citing their belief that Syria was responsible for providing "sanctuary to terrorists". https://www.latimes.com/news/opinion/la-oew-kraft27-2008oct27,0,5462509.story Los Angeles Times Michael B. Kraft America's valuable terrorism list 2008-10-27 28 October 2008 The same reason was used for U.S. raids into Pakistan a few months before as part of the war on terror. Turkey had also used this argument for its raids against PKK rebels in northern Iraq, while Colombia used this defence for cross-border attacks against FARC.Eric Schmitt Shanker, Thom U.S. says Iraqi militant killed in Syria raid http://www.iht.com/articles/2008/10/28/africa/28syria.php?page=1 The New York Times 2008-10-28 2008-11-13 The US position, as presented to the UN General Assembly a month before the incident by President George W. Bush, was that sovereign states have "an obligation to govern responsibly, and solve problems before they spill across borders. We have an obligation to prevent our territory from being used as a sanctuary for terrorism and proliferation and human trafficking and organized crime." Anthony Cordesman, an analyst at the US Center for Strategic and International Studies, said about the raid that, "When you are dealing with states that do not maintain their sovereignty and become a de facto sanctuary, the only way you have to deal with them is this kind of operation." Syria and Iraq right 25% [in response to U.S. claims that the raid was conducted to strike at an Al Qaeda operative] "This is lies from the United States ... Killing civilians in international law means terrorist aggression. We consider this criminal and terrorist aggression." Syrian foreign minister Walid Muallem Syria summoned the U.S. and Iraqi chargés d'affaires to Damascus to protest the unauthorized raid. Sergeant Brooke Murphy, an American military spokesman in Baghdad, said that commanders were investigating.https://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/worldnews/middleeast/syria/3264565/US-forces-destroy-Syrian-construction-site-near-Iraq-border-Damascus-says.html US forces destroy Syrian construction site near Iraq border, Damascus says The Daily Telegraph 2008-10-26 2008-10-26 London Our Foreign https://web.archive.org/web/20081029002927/http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/worldnews/middleeast/syria/3264565/US-forces-destroy-Syrian-construction-site-near-Iraq-border-Damascus-says.html 29 October 2008 livehttps://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/world/middle_east/7693583.stm Syria hits out at 'terrorist' US 2008-10-27 2008-10-27 BBC News https://web.archive.org/web/20081031020722/http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/world/middle_east/7693583.stm October 31, 2008 live According to the Associated Press, an anonymous U.S. official said that a raid had taken place, and had aimed to target members of a foreign fighter logistics network that reached from Syria into Iraq.http://english.aljazeera.net/news/middleeast/2008/10/20081026182232891957.html 'US helicopter raid' inside Syria Al Jazeera 2008-10-26 2008-10-26 https://web.archive.org/web/20081027004343/http://english.aljazeera.net/news/middleeast/2008/10/20081026182232891957.html 27 October 2008 live In other media, Syria characterized the attack as "terrorist aggression".https://news.yahoo.com/s/nm/20081027/wl_nm/us_iraq_syria_16;_ylt=AhFjUMV4DyaGH8khxad6Ec8UewgF Syria accuses U.S. of "terrorist aggression" 2008-10-27 Marwan Makdessi 2008-10-27 Reuters September 2016 medichttps://www.theguardian.com/world/2008/oct/27/syria-usa1 Syria condemns US raid as 'act of terrorist aggression' 2008-10-27 Matthew Weaver Matthew Weaver 2008-10-27 The Guardian London https://web.archive.org/web/20081030045728/http://www.guardian.co.uk/world/2008/oct/27/syria-usa1 30 October 2008 liveSyria Condemns US Attack as "Terrorist Aggression" http://www.democracynow.org/2008/10/28/headlines#1 Democracy Now! 2008-10-28 2008-10-29 https://web.archive.org/web/20081031053814/http://www.democracynow.org/2008/10/28/headlines 31 October 2008 live Syrian Foreign Minister Walid Muallem went ahead with a meeting with UK Foreign Minister David Miliband the day after the raid, but their joint news conference was canceled.Jeremy Brown Syria fears damage to Europe ties https://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/middle_east/7694301.stm BBC News 2008-10-27 2008-10-27 https://web.archive.org/web/20081028004241/http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/middle_east/7694301.stm 28 October 2008 live On October 28 Syria closed an American school called the Damascus Community School in Damascus and a US cultural center.Syria closes US cultural centre after raid http://www.africasia.com/services/news/newsitem.php?area=mideast&item=081028141307.e8zyic01.php IC Publications 2008-10-28 2008-10-28 https://web.archive.org/web/20110521090413/http://www.africasia.com/services/news/newsitem.php?area=mideast&item=081028141307.e8zyic01.php 2011-05-21 dead Iraq was in an awkward position because it wanted to remain friendly with Syria, but also wanted to prevent people believed to be creating unrest in Iraq from entering through Syria. Iraq's official spokesperson officially denounced the attack, stating, "The Iraqi government rejects U.S. aircraft bombarding posts inside Syria."Huffington Post CanadaMay 2019 InternetArchiveBot yes However, an Iraqi Government spokesman stated Syria had in the past refused to hand over fighters who were accused of killing 13 Iraqi border guards. He also stated that the proposed agreement for US forces to stay in Iraq after the UN mandate ended "will limit this type of operation. It will limit the United States from using Iraqi land to attack others."Condemning Attack on Syria, Iraq Calls for Changes to US Troop Pact http://www.democracynow.org/2008/10/29/headlines#1 Democracy Now! 2008-10-29 2008-10-29 https://web.archive.org/web/20081102014958/http://www.democracynow.org/2008/10/29/headlines 2 November 2008 live Iraqi government spokesman Ali al-Dabbagh said about the raid, "This area was a staging ground for activities by terrorist organizations hostile to Iraq." al-Dabbagh added that Iraq had previously requested that Syria turn over members of the insurgent group that used Syria as its base. Iraqi government officials in Mosul and the surrounding governorate of Ninevah strongly supported the raid and encouraged the US and Iraqi central governments to do even more to stop the flow of insurgents from Syria into Iraq. Said Khosro Goran, the vice-governor of Ninevah, "We have an open border with Syria and our neighbors are actively encouraging the terrorists."McElroy, Damien, "Iraqi City Calls For US Raids On Syria", London Daily Telegraph, November 3, 2008. International reactions Russia condemned the attack and refused "the use of force against independent sovereign states under the disguise of combating terrorism."http://sana.sy/eng/22/2008/10/27/198756.htm Russia Condemns US Attack on Abu Kamal SANA 2008-10-27 2008-10-27 https://web.archive.org/web/20081030062432/http://www.sana.sy/eng/22/2008/10/27/198756.htm 30 October 2008 dead A Chinese foreign ministry spokesperson stated, "We oppose any deed that harms other countries' sovereignty and territorial integrity."Agence-France Presse China condemns US raid into Syria http://www.thestandard.com.hk/breaking_news_detail.asp?id=8648 The Standard Hong Kong 2008-10-28 2015-03-24 https://web.archive.org/web/20150402162954/http://www.thestandard.com.hk/breaking_news_detail.asp?id=8648 2015-04-02 dead India expressed disapproval of the raid, stating that actions resulting in the deaths of civilians are counterproductive.http://www.ptinews.com/pti%5Cptisite.nsf/0/33603EAA7CB59438652574F6005B8CE0?OpenDocument India voices disapproval of US raid in Syria 2008-11-03 2024-08-06 https://web.archive.org/web/20240806231643/https://www.ptinews.com/pti%5Cptisite.nsf/0/33603EAA7CB59438652574F6005B8CE0?OpenDocument dead France expressed serious concern over the loss of Syrian civilian lives and called for restraint and respect for the territorial integrity of states.France expresses concerns over U.S. raid http://www.alertnet.org/thenews/newsdesk/LR220520.htm Reuters 2008-10-27 2008-11-13 North Korea condemned the raid, stating "The military attack is an unpardonable, inhuman criminal act ... and state terrorism committed under the pretext of the anti-terrorism war"DPRK slams U.S. air attack on Syria http://news.xinhuanet.com/english/2008-10/30/content_10281857.htm https://web.archive.org/web/20121021231309/http://news.xinhuanet.com/english/2008-10/30/content_10281857.htm dead October 21, 2012 Xinhua 2008-10-30 2008-11-13 The government of Venezuela also condemned the raid, calling it a barbaric act,Venezuela condemns U.S. air attack on Syria http://news.xinhuanet.com/english/2008-10/31/content_10284498.htm https://web.archive.org/web/20150402180110/http://news.xinhuanet.com/english/2008-10/31/content_10284498.htm dead April 2, 2015 Xinhua 2008-10-31 2008-11-13 and President Hugo Chávez characterized the raid as illegal aggression.Venezuela condemns deadly US attack in Syria http://www.iht.com/articles/ap/2008/10/30/news/LT-Venezuela-Syria.php International Herald Tribune Associated Press 2008-10-30 2008-12-16 Vietnam opposed the US unilateral military attack and said that the sovereignty and territorial integrity of nations must always be absolutely respected.Vietnam protests against U.S. military attack in Syria http://news.xinhuanet.com/english/2008-10/29/content_10276661.htm https://web.archive.org/web/20150402180102/http://news.xinhuanet.com/english/2008-10/29/content_10276661.htm dead April 2, 2015 Xinhua 2008-10-29 2008-11-13 Cuba expressed vigorous condemnation for the raid, characterizing it as a criminal action and a violation of international law.Cuba Condemns US Syria Attack http://www.plenglish.com/article.asp?ID=%7BFA209421-31C8-45C0-B2C0-F4B44F61F139%7D)&language=EN Prensa Latina 2008-11-01 2008-11-13 April 2023 InternetArchiveBot yes The Indian Foreign Ministry said that "The scourge of terrorism affects many nations across the world. While this must elicit decisive responses, when such actions result in the death of innocent civilians, they defeat the very objective of the intervention."http://meaindia.nic.in/pressbriefing/2008/11/03pb01.htm Response by Official Spokesperson to a question regarding an incident near Abu Kamal in Syria meaindia.nic.in https://web.archive.org/web/20090410142042/http://meaindia.nic.in/pressbriefing/2008/11/03pb01.htm April 10, 2009 The Arab League denounced the raid and voiced its support to Syria to protect its sovereignty and people. AL Secretary General Amr Moussa underlined the League's support for Syria's right to defend its land and people and called for an investigation in the incident to hold those responsible into account.Arab League Chief Amr Mussa condemns raid in Syria, calls for probe http://www.monstersandcritics.com/news/middleeast/news/article_1439320.php/Arab_League_Chief_Amr_Mussa_condemns_raid_in_Syria_calls_for_probe_ Monsters and Critics 2008-10-27 2008-11-13 https://web.archive.org/web/20090110000325/http://www.monstersandcritics.com/news/middleeast/news/article_1439320.php/Arab_League_Chief_Amr_Mussa_condemns_raid_in_Syria_calls_for_probe_ 2009-01-10 dead The Foreign Ministry of Qatar said that the raid contravened "the principles of international law and charters", and expressed its condolences for those killed and injured.Qatar slams raid on Syria http://www.gulf-times.com/site/topics/article.asp?cu_no=2&item_no=250860&version=1&template_id=57&parent_id=56 Gulf Times 2008-10-28 2008-10-27 https://web.archive.org/web/20110608001908/http://www.gulf-times.com/site/topics/article.asp?cu_no=2&item_no=250860&version=1&template_id=57&parent_id=56 2011-06-08 dead Iran condemned the raid, stating that "We actually condemn any attack which violates national sovereignty of countries and leads to the killing of innocent people. Such invasions are unacceptable."Iran Condemns US Attack on Syria http://english.farsnews.ir/newstext.php?nn=8708061469 Fars News Agency 2008-10-27 2008-10-27 https://web.archive.org/web/20081029112311/http://english.farsnews.com/newstext.php?nn=8708061469 29 October 2008 dead dmy-all Facing increased internal pressure the Iraqi government unexpectedly criticized the expedition into the border village. A spokesman for the Iraqi, Ali al-Dabbagh, said: "The Iraqi government rejects US aircraft bombarding posts inside Syria. The constitution does not allow Iraq to be used as a staging ground to attack neighbouring countries." Increased animosity The Syrian government reacted by warning of retaliation if the US stages any more cross-border strikes, while also demanding respect of its sovereignty. The Syrian foreign minister accused the US of conducting a planned act of "criminal and terrorist aggression" in broad daylight with "blunt determination". Walid Muallem said, "We would defend our territories. All of them [were] civilian, unarmed, and they [were] on Syrian territory." The Syrians also summoned the US and Iraqi ambassadors to protest against the raid, according to the Syrian Sana news agency. Though the US did not officially respond to the accusations, sources were quoted saying a smuggling ring taking foreign fighters into Iraq was the target.http://english.aljazeera.net/news/middleeast/2008/10/200810281753336133.html Syria warns US of retaliation Al Jazeera English 2008-10-28 2008-11-02 https://web.archive.org/web/20081031202309/http://english.aljazeera.net/news/middleeast/2008/10/200810281753336133.html 31 October 2008 live The Syrian government also ordered the closure of an American school and the American Cultural Center in Damascus. And a public spokesman for the US embassy in Damascus said on Wednesday that the Embassy may close to the public for an unspecified period of time.https://news.yahoo.com/s/nm/20081029/ts_nm/us_syria_usa1 https://archive.today/20081102163417/http://news.yahoo.com/s/nm/20081029/ts_nm/us_syria_usa1 U.S. to close embassy in Syria to public on Thursday Reuters via Yahoo! News 2008-10-29 2008-11-02 2008-11-02 Oweis Khaled Yacoub live On October 30, 2008, thousands of Syrians in Damascus protested against the raid. They waved national flags and banners reading "No to U.S. aggression on the Syrian territory" and "The American aggression will not succeed". http://news.xinhuanet.com/english/2008-10/30/content_10281531.htm https://web.archive.org/web/20131220210824/http://news.xinhuanet.com/english/2008-10/30/content_10281531.htm dead December 20, 2013 Angry Syrians march in Damascus streets to show protests against U.S. raid Xinhua 2008-10-30 2008-11-02 Jia Xiaohua Gu Kang The New York Times reported that the rally appeared to be organized and staged by the Syrian government. According to the Middle East Times, Syria publicly expressed anger to conceal its own involvement in the raid. Sale Richard Killing of al-Qaida Smuggler in Syria was Joint Syrian, U.S. Effort News World Communications 2008-11-21 http://www.metimes.com/International/2008/11/21/killing_of_al-qaida_smuggler_in_syria_was_joint_syrian_us_effort/7222/ 2008-11-21 https://web.archive.org/web/20081202000734/http://www.metimes.com/International/2008/11/21/killing_of_al-qaida_smuggler_in_syria_was_joint_syrian_us_effort/7222 2008-12-02 Neither report could be verified independently. Other reactions A number of politicians in the United States have condemned the raid. Representative Dennis Kucinich protested the raid, stating, "Saber rattling and attacks upon sovereign nations who did not attack us are unacceptable."Kucinich: Timing of Attacks in Syria Questionable https://web.archive.org/web/20081030223126/http://kucinich.house.gov/News/DocumentSingle.aspx?DocumentID=105137 October 30, 2008 Representative Nick Rahall was quoted in 2009 as saying that "[Syrian civilians] lost their lives in an unfortunate attempt by the previous administration to once again mislead, bully, and isolate a regime". See also Operation Orchard (Israeli air-raid against alleged Syrian nuclear facility in 2007) Ain es Saheb airstrike References 2 External links Syria files UN Security Council complaint after US raid Syrian government: U.S. helicopters attack farm on Syria-Iraq border Mirror of the video from the original Syria News article (WMV format) Video of Press conference of Walid Muallem - The Syrian Foreign Minister Category:Airstrikes conducted by the United States Category:October 2008 in Syria Category:2008 airstrikes Category:Operations involving special operations forces of the United States Category:Iraqi insurgency (2003–2011) Category:Syria–United States military relations Category:United States military scandals Category:Counterterrorism in Syria Category:October 2008 in Iraq Category:Battles of the Iraq War in 2008 Category:Extrajudicial killings in Syria Category:Extrajudicial killings by the United States military Category:Battles of the Anbar campaign (2003–2011) Category:Battles of the Iraq War involving Sunni insurgent groups Category:Airstrikes in Syria Category:Iraq–Syria military relations