Baghdad 'concerned' over Syrian raid

BAGHDAD, Oct. 28 (UPI) -- The Iraqi Parliament Tuesday expressed concern over a U.S. military raid in neighboring Syria targeting the head of al-Qaida operations there.

Four U.S. military helicopters carrying combat troops entered Syrian territory Sunday in a raid targeting the alleged leader of al-Qaida operations in Syria, Abu Ghadiya, who is believed dead.

Lawmakers in Baghdad reacted strongly to the raid, the Voices of Iraq news service said, as U.S. forces entered Syrian territory using Iraq as a staging ground for the attack.

"The Parliament is monitoring with concern the U.S. military attack that took place within the Syrian territories, and the civilian casualties that resulted," Parliament said in a statement.

Iraqi government spokesman Ali al-Dabbagh, however, seemed to support the attack in a statement calling on foreign fighters to end their attacks against the country.

"Iraq reiterated its demand for all organizations that are using Syria as a staging ground to cease their activities in arming and training terrorists that are targeting Iraq," he said.

Syrian authorities Monday called the attack a "terrorist attack" that resulted in the killing of "innocent civilians."

Baghdad said it would launch an investigation into the incident.