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2008 Abu Kamal raid

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2008 Abu Kamal raid
Part of Iraq War
Specially equipped U.S. Blackhawk helicopters transported troops several miles into Syrian territory.[1]
Abu Kamal is located in Syria
Abu Kamal
Abu Kamal
Abu Kamal (Syria)
TypeHelicopter raid
Location
Sukkariyeh, Syria

34°30′0″N 40°53′0″E / 34.50000°N 40.88333°E / 34.50000; 40.88333
TargetAbu Ghadiyain, Senior Coordinator of al-Qaeda in Syria[2]
DateOctober 26, 2008 (2008-10-26)
13:45 GMT (16:45 local time [3])
Executed byUnited States U.S. helicopter-borne United States Special Operations Forces
Casualties8[4] killed
7[5] injured

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Template:Fixbunching The 2008 Abu Kamal raid was an attack carried out by helicopter-borne CIA paramilitary officers[6] and United States Special Operations Forces[4] inside Syrian territory on October 26, 2008.[3] The Syrian government states that it was an unprovoked "criminal and terrorist aggression" on its sovereignty that left eight civilians dead.[7] An unnamed U.S. military source, however, alleges that the target was a network of foreign fighters who travel through Syria to join the Iraqi insurgency against the United States-led Coalition in Iraq and the Iraqi government.[4]

Background

Throughout the Iraq War, Syria has served as a conduit for foreign fighters intending to enter Iraq to fight US, coalition, or Iraqi military and police forces.[8] US officials have complained that militants and their reinforcement and logistics networks have been able to operate openly in Syria, and that the Syrian government has not made sufficient effort to stop it. The US says that militants fly into Damascus and then, with the help from emplaced networks, travel across the Syrian border into Iraq, mainly through the city of Ramadi.[8]

Since the US-led invasion of Iraq in 2003, there have been a few reported incidents of the US military firing across the border at targets in Syria. US General David H. Petraeus stated in October 2008 that efforts by US and Iraqi forces had cut the number of militants crossing into Iraq from Syria from about 100 a month to 20 a month. Petraeus, however, stated that more needed to be done to halt the flow of militants. In 2008 the US blamed violence in Mosul as caused by foreign fighters from Syria.[8]

The raid

The raid took place in eastern Syria near Abu Kamal, which is near the Iraqi border city of Al-Qa'im, regarded by the U.S. as the main crossing point into Iraq for fighters, money, and equipment in support of the Iraqi insurgency.[4] At some point in time the Central Intelligence Agency confirmed the location of al-Qaeda coordinator Abu Ghadiyah, accused of being responsible for much of the smuggling, and suggested the raid be undertaken.[1]

The Al-Qa'im/Abu Kamal area on the Iraqi-Syrian border.

Four American Blackhawk helicopters entered Syrian airspace around 16:45 local time on October 26 and deployed roughly two dozen soldiers, who attacked a building under construction in the village of As Sukkariyah, just north of Abu Kamal.[9][1] Sky News reported that two of the four American helicopters landed, allowing 10 US special forces to disembark and storm a building under construction. [10] The Syrian government stated that the soldiers killed eight civilians, including a man, his four children, and a married couple.[11][12] However, reporters said they only saw seven bodies, and no children.[13] A villager from the area stated that at least two men were seized by the American forces.[14] An eyewitness told the BBC that two of the dead - the married couple - were "very simple people" who "lived in a tent and were being paid to guard building materials such as cement and timber, 24 hours a day. These people will have had nothing to do with the insurgency in Iraq."[9]

Target

The target of the raid was said to be a foreign fighter logistics network.[15][16] A U.S. source told CBS News that "the leader of the foreign fighters, an al-Qaeda officer, was the target of Sunday's cross-border raid." He said the attack was successful but did not say whether or not the al-Qaeda officer was killed.[12] Fox News later reported that Abu Ghadiyain, "Al Qaeda's senior coordinator operating in Syria," was killed in the attack.[2]

Abu Ghadiyain is a Sunni Iraqi born between 1977 and 1979 in Mosul, whose actual name is Badran Turki Hishan al Mazidih.[17] The U.S. government accuses him of working for Iraqi al-Qaeda leader Abu Mus'ab al-Zarqawi and later Abu Ayyub Al-Masri, and in 2004 was appointed the Syrian commander for logistics.[18] According to The New York Times, Abu Ghadiyain was either killed near his tent or died after being taken by the American troops;[1] his body was flown out of Syria.[6] The Syrian government disputed the claims, stating that these were "lies from the United States" and that the American troops had violated international law and Syrian sovereignty.[19]

Legality of the raid

The Syrian Government has called this "terrorist aggression" and a violation of thier sovereignty. The American Administration defends these actions as self-defence under Article 51 of the UN Charter. In a speech before the UN General Assembly a month prior the President George W. Bush said "As sovereign states, we have an obligation to govern responsibly, and solve problems before they spill across borders. We have an obligation to prevent our territory from being used as a sanctuary for terrorism and proliferation and human trafficking and organized crime."[20] The same reason was used for the raids into Pakistan a few months previous also carried out by the USA as part of the War on Terror. Turkey used the same arguement for its raids against PKK terrorists in northern Iraq, Colombia as well used this defence when it attacked FARC in other sovereign states.

Aftermath

[in response to U.S. claims that the raid was conducted to strike at an Al Qaeda operative] "This is lies from the United States... Killing civilians in international law means terrorist aggression. We consider this criminal and terrorist aggression."

Syrian foreign minister Waleed Mouallem[19]

Syria summoned the U.S. and Iraqi chargés d'affaires to Damascus to protest the unauthorized raid. Sergeant Brooke Murphy, an American military spokesman in Baghdad, said that commanders were investigating.[21][22] According to the Associated Press, a U.S. official said that a raid had taken place, and had aimed to target members of a foreign fighter logistics network that reaches from Syria into Iraq.[23] In other media, Syria has begun to characterize the attack as "terrorist aggression".[24][25][22] Syrian Foreign Minister Walid Muallem went ahead with a meeting with UK Foreign Minister David Miliband the day after the raid, but their joint news conference was canceled.[26]

Iraqi governement spokesman Ali al-Dabbagh said about the raid that, "This area was a staging ground for activities by terrorist organizations hostile to Iraq."[1] al-Dabbagh added that Iraq had previously requested that Syria turn over members of the insurgent group that uses Syria as its base.[1]

International reactions

Russia condemned the attack and refused "the use of force against independent sovereign states under the disguise of combating terrorism."[27] Iran also condemned the raid, stating that "We actually condemn any attack which violates national sovereignty of countries and leads to the killing of innocent people. Such invasions are unacceptable."[25][28]

The Foreign Ministry of Qatar said that the raid contravened "the principles of international law and charters," and expressed its condolences for those killed and injured.[29] An Iraqi Government spokesman stated Syria had refused to hand over fighters who were accused of killing 13 Iraqi border guards. He also stated that the proposed agreement for US forces to stay in Iraq after the UN mandate ends "will limit this type of operation. It will limit the United States from using Iraqi land to attack others."[6]

References

  1. ^ a b c d e f Schmitt, Eric (2008-10-27). "U.S. Officials Confirm Commando Raid on Syria". The New York Times. Retrieved 2008-10-27. {{cite news}}: Unknown parameter |coauthors= ignored (|author= suggested) (help)
  2. ^ a b "U.S. Official: Syrian Strike Killed Al Qaeda Target". Fox News. 2008-10-27. Retrieved 2008-10-27.
  3. ^ a b "'US troops' strike inside Syria". BBC. 2008-10-26. Retrieved 2008-10-26.
  4. ^ a b c d "US special forces launch rare attack inside of Syria". Associated Press. 2008-10-26. Retrieved 2008-10-26.
  5. ^ "US forces kill eight in helicopter raid on Syria". The Guardian. 2008-10-27. Retrieved 2008-10-27.
  6. ^ a b c Landay, Jonathan S. (2008-10-27). "CIA led mystery Syria raid that killed terrorist leader". McClatchy. Retrieved 2008-10-27. {{cite news}}: Unknown parameter |coauthors= ignored (|author= suggested) (help)
  7. ^ "Syria hits out at 'terrorist' US". BBC. 2008-10-27. Retrieved 2008-10-27.
  8. ^ a b c Daragahi, Borzou (2008-10-27). "8 reportedly killed in U.S. raid inside Syria". Los Angeles Times. Retrieved 2008-10-27. {{cite news}}: Unknown parameter |coauthors= ignored (|author= suggested) (help)
  9. ^ a b "Syrian witness reacts to US raid". BBC News. 2008-10-27. Retrieved 2008-10-27.
  10. ^ "Syrians Killed In US Border Raid". Sky News. 2008-10-26. Retrieved 2008-10-26.
  11. ^ "Foreign Ministry Summons US Charge d'Affaires in Damascus, Holds US Administration Responsible for the Dangerous Aggression in Abu Kamal". Syrian Arab News Agency. 2008-10-26. Retrieved 2008-10-26.
  12. ^ a b "Syria: U.S. Attack Kills 8 In Border Area: Helicopters Raid Farm In Syrian Village; Al Qaeda Officer Was Target Of Rare Cross-Border Attack". CBS News. 2008-10-26. Retrieved 2008-10-26.
  13. ^ Hickley, Matthew (2008-10-27). "Britain and Syria cancel joint news conference as Damascus condemns helicopter attack as 'terrorist aggression'". Daily Mail. Retrieved 2008-10-27.
  14. ^ Malla, Hussein (2008-10-27). "Syrian villager says 2 men grabbed in US raid". Associated Press. Retrieved 2008-10-27.
  15. ^ "US choppers attack Syrian village near Iraq border". International Herald Tribune. 2008-10-26. Retrieved 2008-10-26.
  16. ^ "U.S. says raid in Syria targeted smuggler". Reuters. 2008-10-27. Retrieved 2008-10-27.
  17. ^ Landay, Jonathan S. (2008-10-27). "U.S. officials say Syria raid killed terrorist leader". McClatchy. Retrieved 2008-10-27.
  18. ^ "Treasury Designates Members of Abu Ghadiyah's Network Facilitates flow of terrorists, weapons, and money from Syria to al Qaida in Iraq". U.S. Department of the Treasury. 2008-02-28. Retrieved 2008-10-27.
  19. ^ a b "Al Qaeda was U.S. target in Syrian attack, official says". CNN. 2008-10-27. Retrieved 2008-10-27.
  20. ^ http://www.iht.com/articles/2008/10/28/africa/28syria.php?page=1
  21. ^ "US forces destroy Syrian construction site near Iraq border, Damascus says". The Daily Telegraph. 2008-10-26. Retrieved 2008-10-26.
  22. ^ a b "Syria hits out at 'terrorist' US". BBC News. 2008-10-27. Retrieved 2008-10-27. {{cite news}}: Check date values in: |date= (help); Cite has empty unknown parameters: |1= and |coauthors= (help); Unknown parameter |month= ignored (help)CS1 maint: date and year (link)
  23. ^ "'US helicopter raid' inside Syria". Al Jazeera. 2008-10-26. Retrieved 2008-10-26.
  24. ^ Makdessi, Marwan (2008-10-27). "Syria accuses U.S. of "terrorist aggression"". Rueters. Retrieved 2008-10-27. {{cite news}}: Check date values in: |date= (help); Cite has empty unknown parameter: |coauthors= (help); Unknown parameter |month= ignored (help)CS1 maint: date and year (link)
  25. ^ a b Weaver, Matthew (2008-10-27). "Syria condemns US raid as 'act of terrorist aggression'". The Guardian. Retrieved 2008-10-27. {{cite news}}: Check date values in: |date= (help); Cite has empty unknown parameter: |coauthors= (help); Unknown parameter |month= ignored (help)CS1 maint: date and year (link)
  26. ^ Brown, Jeremy (2008-10-27). "Syria fears damage to Europe ties". BBC News. Retrieved 2008-10-27.
  27. ^ "Russia Condemns US Attack on Abu Kamal". SANA. 2008-10-27. Retrieved 2008-10-27.
  28. ^ "Iran Condemns US Attack on Syria". Fars News Agency. 2008-10-27. Retrieved 2008-10-27.
  29. ^ "Qatar slams raid on Syria". Gulf Times. 2008-10-28. Retrieved 2008-10-27.

See also

Wikinews has related news:
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