Syrian protests lead U.S. Embassy to close

DAMASCUS, Syria, Oct. 30 (UPI) -- Officials cited safety concerns in deciding to close the U.S. Embassy in Syria Thursday following demonstrations over a deadly U.S. airstrike.

Anti-U.S. protests have taken place daily across the country after what Syrian leaders called "an act of aggression" Sunday by U.S. troops that led to eight civilians deaths, CNN reported.

Syria says four U.S. helicopters based in Iraq attacked a farm 5 miles from the Iraq-Syria border, the country's news agency, SANA, reported. Washington hasn't confirmed the strike, but a U.S. official told CNN U.S. gunships fired near the Syria-Iraq border and successfully targeted Abu Ghadiya, an Iraqi militant suspected of working with al-Qaida to funnel money, weapons and foreign fighters into Iraq.

Syrian government also asked that an American cultural center and the U.S.-run Damascus Community School be closed.

Earlier this week, Syria gave Maura Connelly, the top U.S. official in the country a formal protest about Sunday's incident, U.S. State Department spokesman Robert Wood said.

Syria also filed a complaint with the United Nations over the incident.

The Iraqi government announced Wednesday that it has opened an investigation into the airstrike, saying it would share any findings with Syria.