Attack Highlights Increasing U.S.-Syrian Tension
Media Line News Agency
October 29, 2008
A U.S. attack on Syrian soil on Sunday signifies increased tension between Washington and Damascus.
Eight people were killed in the attack by U.S. military helicopters in an area located around eight kilometers (five miles) into Syria from its border with Iraq. The Syrian government is condemning the attack as a serious act of aggression. It is also calling on the Iraqi government to prevent use of its territory by foreign forces to attack Syria.
Washington says the area remains a point of entry for terrorists and weapons from Syria into Iraq that are used against U.S. forces there. The attack ups the ante in tensions between the U.S. and Syria. Washington has accused Damascus of allowing foreign fighters to enter Iraq and fight coalition forces.
The Syrian border with Iraq is "uncontrolled" on the Syria side and there is movement of foreign fighters there, U.S. Maj.-Gen. John Kelly, commanding general of the multi national force in western Iraq, said last Thursday. The U.S. is also unhappy about Syria´s close relations with its arch-foe Iran and its support for the Shi´ite Hizbullah organization in Lebanon, which was engaged in a 34-day war with Israel in 2006.
Syria has recently made efforts to appease the West in moves such as launching indirect peace talks with Israel and upgrading diplomatic relations with Lebanon. The fruit of these efforts were manifested in its improving relations with European countries such as France. But the U.S. has remained cautious in its relationship with Damascus and has been critical about Syria´s recent build-up of forces along the Syrian-Lebanese border.
Syria said the troop boost was a reaction to attacks in northern Lebanon that Damascus was concerned would spill over into Syria. U.S. Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice recently said this was not a justification for a military assault on Lebanon and that she would "never permit Syria to intervene militarily in Lebanon."
A U.S. defense official signed an agreement in Beirut on October 17 to provide the Lebanese army with additional military equipment as part of an arrangement to boost defense relations between the two countries. Although Damascus is peeved at the assault on its soil, it is unlikely that Sunday´s attack will have a long-term negative effect on Syrian-U.S. relations, Dr. Samir Al-Taqi, director of the Damascus-based Orient Center for International Studies who is considered to be close to the Syrian government, told The Media Line.
"The Syrians have a perception that this is a departing administration and this irresponsible act shouldn´t be protracted over the long-term relations with the U.S.," he said. "We know that the Americans are reviewing their policies and we hope that whoever becomes president in Washington won´t be able to pursue this failing American policy."
A-Taqi added with regard to American claims that Syria is allowing destabilizing forces to enter Iraq from its soil that it has requested technical assistance from the U.S. and dialogue with both Washington and Baghdad.
"Unfortunately, all attempts at dialogue were ignored," he said.
Eight people were killed in the attack by U.S. military helicopters in an area located around eight kilometers (five miles) into Syria from its border with Iraq. The Syrian government is condemning the attack as a serious act of aggression. It is also calling on the Iraqi government to prevent use of its territory by foreign forces to attack Syria.
Washington says the area remains a point of entry for terrorists and weapons from Syria into Iraq that are used against U.S. forces there. The attack ups the ante in tensions between the U.S. and Syria. Washington has accused Damascus of allowing foreign fighters to enter Iraq and fight coalition forces.
The Syrian border with Iraq is "uncontrolled" on the Syria side and there is movement of foreign fighters there, U.S. Maj.-Gen. John Kelly, commanding general of the multi national force in western Iraq, said last Thursday. The U.S. is also unhappy about Syria´s close relations with its arch-foe Iran and its support for the Shi´ite Hizbullah organization in Lebanon, which was engaged in a 34-day war with Israel in 2006.
Syria has recently made efforts to appease the West in moves such as launching indirect peace talks with Israel and upgrading diplomatic relations with Lebanon. The fruit of these efforts were manifested in its improving relations with European countries such as France. But the U.S. has remained cautious in its relationship with Damascus and has been critical about Syria´s recent build-up of forces along the Syrian-Lebanese border.
Syria said the troop boost was a reaction to attacks in northern Lebanon that Damascus was concerned would spill over into Syria. U.S. Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice recently said this was not a justification for a military assault on Lebanon and that she would "never permit Syria to intervene militarily in Lebanon."
A U.S. defense official signed an agreement in Beirut on October 17 to provide the Lebanese army with additional military equipment as part of an arrangement to boost defense relations between the two countries. Although Damascus is peeved at the assault on its soil, it is unlikely that Sunday´s attack will have a long-term negative effect on Syrian-U.S. relations, Dr. Samir Al-Taqi, director of the Damascus-based Orient Center for International Studies who is considered to be close to the Syrian government, told The Media Line.
"The Syrians have a perception that this is a departing administration and this irresponsible act shouldn´t be protracted over the long-term relations with the U.S.," he said. "We know that the Americans are reviewing their policies and we hope that whoever becomes president in Washington won´t be able to pursue this failing American policy."
A-Taqi added with regard to American claims that Syria is allowing destabilizing forces to enter Iraq from its soil that it has requested technical assistance from the U.S. and dialogue with both Washington and Baghdad.
"Unfortunately, all attempts at dialogue were ignored," he said.
Print
Email
