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 four children, Syrian officials 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.
The Syrian foreign ministry summoned the US envoy in Damascus to protest at the raid.
Syria has summoned the US and Iraqi envoys in Damascus to protest at the raid.
A government official told Sana: "Syria condemns this aggressive act and holds American forces responsible for this aggression and all of its repercussions."
"Syria condemns this aggressive act and holds American forces responsible for this aggression and all of its repercussions," a government official said.
Official media said the Iraqi envoy had also been summoned.
If confirmed, the raid would be the first known attack by US forces inside Syrian territory, says the BBC's Natalia Antelava.
If confirmed, the raid would be the first by US forces inside Syrian territory, says the BBC's Natalia Antelava.
Crossing point
Crossing point
"Four American helicopters violated Syrian airspace around 16:45 local time (1345 GMT) on Sunday," Sana news agency said.
"Four American helicopters violated Syrian airspace around 1645 local time [1345 GMT] on Sunday," Sana said.
It said that "American soldiers" who had emerged from helicopters "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".
"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 dead included a man and his four children and a married couple.
"The helicopters then left Syrian territory towards Iraqi territory," Sana said.
"The helicopters then left Syrian territory towards Iraqi territory," Sana said.
It named the village as Sukkiraya, 8km (5 miles) from the Iraqi border.
The dead include a man, his four children and a married couple, the Syrian report said, without giving details of the children's ages.
A US military spokesman couldn't confirm or deny the reports. He said: "It's a developing situation."
The village was named as Sukkiraya, 8km (5 miles) from the Iraqi border.
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.
A US military spokesman could not confirm or deny the reports, saying it was a "developing situation".
Washington has accused Damascus of turning a blind eye to the problem.
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.
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