U.S. Confirms Special Forces Strike in Syria

saltwn · #1 (**permalink**) 10-27-2008, 12:48 PM

Quote:

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

The Syrian government said four U.S. military helicopters attacked a civilian building under construction shortly before sundown Sunday, killing eight people in the village of Sukkariyeh -- about five miles inside the Syrian border.

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

Syria's foreign minister, Walid al-Moallem, described the raid as an act of "criminal and terrorist aggression."

The attack is another sign that the U.S. is aggressively launching military raids across the borders of Afghanistan and Iraq to destroy insurgent sanctuaries. In Pakistan, U.S. missile strikes have killed at least two senior al Qaeda operatives this year and ramped up the threat to groups suspected of plotting attacks on Western troops in Afghanistan and terror strikes in the West.

Iran condemned the attack as did Russia, which has had close ties with Syria since Soviet times.

The raid also put the Baghdad government in an awkward position while negotiating a security pact with the United States. Iraqi officials said Monday they hoped the raid would not harm their relations with neighboring Syria, but the government spokesman in Baghdad noted that it happened in an area known as a terrorist haven.

U.S. Confirms Special Forces Strike in Syria - WSJ.com

It's about time, but I wish they had done some things sooner rather than three months before a new President takes office.

cnredd · #2 (**permalink**) 10-27-2008, 01:30 PM

Yes it would've been ALOT better to push this angle, but I would guess that would depend on available information...and the value of the target...

cnredd · #3 (**permalink**) 10-27-2008, 01:43 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by cnredd

Yes it would've been ALOT better to push this angle, but I would guess that would depend on available information...and the value of the target...

And it was a high value target indeed...

U.S. Official: Syrian Strike Killed Al Qaeda Target

Quote:

A U.S. strike on a network of foreign fighters in Syria killed its main target — an Al Qaeda coordinator who was wanted for sending foreign fighters, weapons and cash into Iraq, a U.S. official told FOX News.

Killed in Sunday's attack by Special Operations Forces was Abu Ghadiyain, Al Qaeda's senior coordinator operating in Syria who was closely associated with the leader of Al Qaeda in Iraq.

The assault, which took place about 4-5 miles inside Syria, came just days after the commander of U.S. forces in western Iraq said American troops were redoubling efforts to secure the border, which he called an "uncontrolled" gateway for fighters entering Iraq.

Ninety percent of foreign fighters enter Iraq through Syria, according to U.S. intelligence estimates, bringing cash to Al Qaeda in Iraq's chief. They also are deadly — trained in bomb-making and willing to sacrifice themselves in suicide attacks.

faithful_servant · #4 (**permalink**) 10-27-2008, 02:32 PM

Good shooting gentlemen!!

Spencer Collins · #5 (**permalink**) 10-27-2008, 02:54 PM

Keep them on the run....

faithful_servant · #6 (**permalink**) 10-27-2008, 03:02 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Spencer Collins

Keep them on the run....

If they're still running, just lead 'em a little more....

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