SYRIA: Still fuming over U.S. raid
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Damascus may be considering tweaking Washington and Baghdad a bit more over the recent raid by U.S. Special Forces that Syria claims killed eight people, mostly civilians, in a town near its border with Iraq. Washington says one of those killed was a senior Al Qaeda operative responsible for smuggling weapons and fighters into Iraq.
Syrian private media outlets are reporting that Syria may be withdrawing some of its military forces from the border. The TV channel Donia reported that witnesses saw Syrian border guards ‘packing and dismantling guarding tents in a number of points on the Syrian Iraqi borders.’
Such a step would likely set back efforts to stem border infiltration by Iraqi-bound militants, a key demand for years by Washington and Baghdad. The TV report was not confirmed. A Syrian Foreign Ministry source told The Times that the media reports are ‘not official and the information is broadcast by private channels.’
Observers said reducing forces along the border could signal a “threatening” gesture and a reminder that Syria plays a role in Iraq’s stability. Damascus has also voiced its displeasure with the Iraqis, accusing them of ‘allowing such an offensive on Syria from their territory.’ Syrian Foreign Minster Walid Moallem wondered ‘if this is a result of the debated security deal between the Americans and the Iraqis.’
Moreover, Syria has announced delaying a meeting on Nov. 11 between Syrian and Iraqi officials, which was supposed to lay the ground for a ‘historic’ visit by the Syrian prime minister to Baghdad before the end of the year. Syrian officials have also hinted that they might postpone a security meeting for countries bordering Iraq that is slated for Damascus next month.
‘It all depends on the answers we get,’ said the official. ‘We need to have a clear commitment from both sides that this won’t happen again.’
Syria announced it will close by the end of next week the American culture center and the American school in Damascus. The Oct. 26 U.S. raid came as Syria is attempting to ease tensions with Baghdad and the West, but also during repeated criticisms by the Bush administration that Damascus wasn’t doing enough to stop the flow of militants headed for Iraq.
-- Ziad Haider in Damascus and Jeffrey Fleishman in Cairo
Bodies of those purportedly killed in U.S. raid into Syria. Credit: AFP
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