U.S. INVADES SYRIA

DEBKAfile Exclusive:

"US Marines battled Syrian troops Thursday night after crossing the border from Iraq into Syria at a point west of al Qaim.
November 25, 2005, 5:14 PM (GMT+02:00)
Both sides suffered casualties. US soldiers crossed over after Damascus was given an ultimatum Thursday, Nov. 24, to hand over a group of senior commanders belonging to Abu Musab al Zarqawi’s al Qaeda force. According to US intelligence, the group had fled to Syria to escape an American attack in Mosul. Syrian border guards opened fire on the American force."

UPDATE:
"DEBKAfile Exclusive: Syria claims US forces suffered 11 casualties in a Syrian-US clash Thursday night, Nov.24 – without clarifying whether they meant dead or wounded
November 25, 2005, 5:14 PM (GMT+02:00)
Internal Syrian communications channels report Syrian “Desert Guards” border units fought US Marines who crossed into Syria at a point west of alQaim. They also claimed 30 Syrian casualties.

"DEBKAfile’s military sources report the battle took place at the Syrian-Iraqi border town of Abu Kemal. US forces were in hot pursuit of a group of al-Qaeda operatives who fled across to Syria in escape an American attack pinning them down in Mosul. The US military delivered Syria an ultimatum to hand the terrorists over. The American pursuit continued Friday when Syria failed to respond."

UPDATE (2)

I recommend readers check out The Dark Wraith's expansion on this situation in the "discussion thread" below.