Mystery surrounds an American commando raid on a farm on the Syrian side of the border with Iraq on October 26th. The Syrian government said that eight civilians had been killed, including a woman and three children. The Americans suggested that the target of the incursion was a leading al-Qaeda man but were reluctant to confirm whether he was dead or alive. Some reports said that at least one body had been airlifted out. The mood in Damascus, Syria's capital, was one of perplexity, twitchiness and anger.rnEarly this year an American Treasury report accused Syria of harbouring an Iraqi-born resident called Abu Ghadiyah and his family, who apparently ran a network for foreign jihadists, providing them with false passports, weapons, guides, safe houses and allowances for those bound on missions into Iraq. Ever since the invasion of Iraq in 2003, the Americans have accused Syria of letting infiltration chains ("rat lines") of fighters operate with impunity. But more recently the Pentagon has acknowledged that the number of would-be jihadists crossing into Iraq from Syria has been dipping.
展开▼
