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| Version 12 | Version 13 |
|---|---|
| 'US helicopter raid' inside Syria | |
| (about 4 hours later) | |
| US military helicopters 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 attack took place in the Abu Kamal border area, in eastern Syria. | |
| Damascus has condemned the strike as a "serious violation" of its territory. | |
| The US has neither confirmed nor denied the incident. 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 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. | "Syria condemns this aggressive act and holds American forces responsible for this aggression and all of its repercussions," a government official said. |
| If confirmed, the raid would be the first known attack by US forces inside Syrian territory, says BBC diplomatic correspondent Jonathan Marcus. | If confirmed, the raid would be the first known attack by US forces inside Syrian territory, says BBC diplomatic correspondent Jonathan Marcus. |
| 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. | 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. |
| Crossing point | Crossing point |
| "Four American helicopters violated Syrian airspace around 1645 local time [1345 GMT] on Sunday," Sana said. | "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. | "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 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. | The dead include a man, his four children and a married couple, the Syrian report said, without giving details of the children's ages. |
| The village was named as Sukkiraya, 8km (5 miles) from the Iraqi border. | The village was named as Sukkiraya, 8km (5 miles) from the Iraqi border. |
| A US military spokesman was unable to confirm or deny the reports, saying it was a "developing situation". | A US military spokesman was unable to confirm or deny the reports, saying it was a "developing situation". |
| But later the Associated Press news agency quoted an unnamed US military official in Washington as saying that American special forces had attacked foreign fighters linked to al-Qaeda. | But later the Associated Press news agency quoted an unnamed US military official in Washington as saying that American special forces had attacked foreign fighters linked to al-Qaeda. |
| "We are taking matters into our own hands," the official said. | "We are taking matters into our own hands," the official said. |
| The area is near the Iraqi border city of Qaim, a major crossing point for fighters, weapons and money travelling into Iraq to fuel the Sunni insurgency. | The area is near the Iraqi border city of Qaim, a major crossing point for fighters, weapons and money travelling into Iraq to fuel the Sunni insurgency. |
| Washington has in the past accused Damascus of turning a blind eye to the problem. | Washington has in the past accused Damascus of turning a blind eye to the problem. |
| The Iraqi city's mayor, Farhan al-Mahalawi, told Reuters news agency that US helicopters had struck a village on the Syrian side of the border, after which Syrian troops surrounded the site. | |
| Are you in the area? Did you see what happened? Send us your comments and eye witness accounts using the form below. | Are you in the area? Did you see what happened? Send us your comments and eye witness accounts using the form below. |
| You can send pictures and videos to yourpics@bbc.co.uk, text them to +44 7725 100 100 or if you have a large file you can upload here. | You can send pictures and videos to yourpics@bbc.co.uk, text them to +44 7725 100 100 or if you have a large file you can upload here. |
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