Iraq Nervous About U.S. Raid of Syria

Iraqis condemn U.S. airstrike inside Syria, putting security deal in jeopardy.

ByABC News
October 28, 2008, 9:24 AM

Oct. 28, 2008 — -- The deadly U.S. raid into Syria may complicate efforts to win approval for a new U.S.-Iraqi security deal by drawing attention to the reality that many Iraqis detest -- that they can't control everything American forces might do.

Syrian officials say U.S. troops and helicopters launched the raid Sunday inside Syrian territory close to the Iraqi border, killing eight people.

The U.S. command in Baghdad would not comment, but a U.S. military official said American special forces targeted the network that smuggles fighters and weapons into Iraq. The official spoke on condition of anonymity because the raid was classified.

In a sign of how sensitive such attacks can be for Iraq's government, Syria summoned the top Iraqi diplomat in Damascus and demanded that Iraq "shoulder its responsibilities" and prevent the use of Iraqi territory "for aggression against Syria."

Today, Iraqi government spokesman Ali Dabbagh's office issued a statement to ABC News, saying that the "Iraqi government rejects the U.S. airstrike inside Syrian territory as part of the policy of the Iraqi government and the permanent constitution, which does not allow that Iraq's territory be a base for an attack on neighboring countries. The government has begun an investigation into the incident, calling the U.S. forces not to repeat such work."

Dabbagh added that the Iraqi government is anxious to establish better relations with the Syrian government and called on the Syrian government for increased cooperation and coordination to achieve the interests of the two countries.

Syrian anger over the raid strikes at the heart of Iraqi criticism about the U.S.-Iraqi security agreement -- that Iraqis cannot take control of their own country as long as big U.S. military forces remain on their soil.

The raid could also encourage Syria and Iran to step up pressure on Iraqi lawmakers to reject the deal. Parliament must approve the measure before the U.N. mandate expires Dec. 31, and Iraqi Shiite lawmakers have expressed doubts the existing version would pass.