US forces in Iraq staged a "successful" raid into Syria against foreign fighters, an American official said Monday while a furious Damascus accused Washington of "terrorist aggression."
The American official, who would not be identified but has access to U.S. intelligence, identified the intended target of the attack as "Abu Ghadiya," an Iraqi whose family he said has been active in smuggling money, weapons and foreign fighters across the Syrian border into Iraq.
The U.S. helicopters and military special operations forces carried out the attack the American official confirmed to CNN.
It was the first confirmed US action of its kind into Syrian territory amid frosty relations between Washington and Damascus.
"We consider this criminal and terrorist aggression," Syrian Foreign Minister Walid Muallem told a news conference in London after talks with British Foreign Secretary David Miliband.
"Killing civilians in international law means a terrorist aggression," added Muallem, whose country's official media said eight civilians were killed, including children.
Asked if Syria would use force if the Americans mounted a similar operation again, he said: "As long as you are saying if, I tell you, if they do it again, we will defend our territories."