US helicopter-borne troops have carried out a raid inside Syria along the Iraqi border, killing eight people including a woman, Syrian authorities say.
US helicopter-borne troops have carried out a raid inside Syria along the Iraqi border, killing eight people including a woman, Syrian authorities say.
The official Syrian news agency Sana said the raid took place in the Abu Kamal border area, in eastern Syria.
The official Syrian news agency Sana said the raid took place in the Abu Kamal border area, in eastern Syria.
It said that American soldiers on four helicopters had stormed a building under construction on Sunday night.
It said that American soldiers on four helicopters had stormed a building under construction on Sunday night.
The US says it is investigating. It has previously accused Syria of allowing foreign militants into Iraq.
The US says it is investigating. It has previously accused Syria of allowing foreign militants into Iraq.
Syria has summoned the US and Iraqi envoys to Damascus to protest against what it called a US military attack, official media reported.
"Four American helicopters violated Syrian airspace around 16:45 local time (1345 GMT) on Sunday," state television and Sana news agency said.
"Four American helicopters violated Syrian airspace around 16:45 local time (1345 GMT) on Sunday," state television and Sana news agency said.
It said that "American soldiers" who had emerged from helicopters "attacked a civilian building under construction and fired at workmen inside, causing eight deaths".
It said that "American soldiers" who had emerged from helicopters "attacked a civilian building under construction and fired at workmen inside, causing eight deaths".
"The helicopters then left Syrian territory towards Iraqi territory," Sana said.
"The helicopters then left Syrian territory towards Iraqi territory," Sana said.
"We are in the process of investigating this," Sgt Brooke Murphy, a US military spokesman, told the AFP news agency in Baghdad.
It named the village as Sukkiraya, 8km (5 miles) from the Iraqi border.
A US military spokesman couldn't confirm or deny the reports. He said: "It's a developing situation."
The area is near the Iraqi border city of Qaim, which had been 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, which had been a major crossing point for fighters, weapons and money travelling into Iraq to fuel the Sunni insurgency.
Washington has accused Damascus of turning a blind eye to the problem.
Washington has accused Damascus of turning a blind eye to the problem.
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