Tens of Thousands Protest Attack on Syria

November 2, 2008

On October 30 in Syria, tens of thousands of people from all walks of life – including workers, students, women's, civic, and religious organizations – demonstrated against U.S. aggression on their country.

The protests were organized in response to an October 26th raid in which soldiers from an American helicopter which crossed the border from Iraq opened fire on workers inside a building under construction inside of Syria. Eight civilians were killed, including one woman and four children.

The U.S. military has refused to confirm the attack, while an unnamed U.S. military official disclosed to the Associated Press that American special forces had been used.

The brutal raid is an attack on Syrian sovereignty and a reminder of the real danger of the U.S. further spreading the war into Syria.

Syrian foreign minister Walid Muallem denounced the U.S. raid saying, "We consider this criminal and terrorist action." Syria issued a formal complaint to the United Nations (UN) on October 28. A letter from the Syrian cabinet to the UN included the following statements, "Syria condemns this act of aggression perpetrated by the U.S. occupation forces...This act of aggression represents a dangerous violation of the Syrian sovereignty and the UN principles and conventions."