SARG CONDEMNATION OF ALLEGED U.S. MILITARY STRIKE IN ABU

UNCLAS DAMASCUS 000745 DEPARTMENT FOR SES-O, NEA/ELA, NEA/PPD, PA, INR/R/MR, IIP/G/NEA-SA, LONDON FOR SREEBNY, DUBAI FOR PELLETIER, BEIRUT FOR SISON AND GRANT SENSITIVE, SIPDIS E.O.12958: N/A TAGS: PGOV KPAO PHUM PREL SA SY SUBJECT: SARG CONDEMNATION OF ALLEGED U.S. MILITARY STRIKE IN ABU KAMAL REF: DAMASCUS 741 ¶1. [SBU] As reported reftel, Vice Minister of Foreign Affairs Faisal Miqdad passed Charge a copy of the Ministry's press release regarding the alleged U.S. military operation in eastern Syria that purportedly killed eight Syrian civilians. An Embassy translation follows. ¶2. [SBU] Begin text: Syrian Arab Republic Ministry of Foreign Affairs Office of the Vice Minister To the Syrian News Agency (SANA),for distribution An official source announced the following: Four U.S. helicopters coming from Iraq today violated Syrian airspace in the area of Abu Kamal at the Sakkariya farm. The helicopters targeted a civilian building which lead to the deaths of citizen Daoud Mohammed Al Abdullah and his four children, citizen Ahmad Khalifa and citizen Ali Abbas Hassan and his wife and the injury of another citizen. The American helicopters then returned to Iraq. Syria condemns this aggressive act and holds the U.S. forces responsible for this aggression and for all that proceeds from it. Syria also demands that the Iraqi government take responsibility and launch an investigation immediately into this grave violation. Syria also demands that the Iraqi government prevent/forbid the use of Iraqi territory for aggression against Syria. The Vice Foreign Minister called in the U.S. Charge d'Affaires in Damascus and informed her of Syria's protest and condemnation of this grave attack and that it holds the U.S. Administration completely responsible for it. The Iraqi Charge d'Affaires was also called in to the Foreign Ministry for the same purpose. End Text. CONNELLY