Syria receives Iraqi foreign minister

DAMASCUS, Syria, Nov. 11 (UPI) -- Syrian Foreign Minister Walid al-Moallem welcomed his Iraqi counterpart, Hoshyar Zebari, in Damascus Tuesday to discuss furthering bilateral ties.

Zebari was greeted at the Damascus International Airport by top foreign ministry officials and the charge d'affaires from the Iraqi Embassy in Damascus, the official Syrian Arab News Agency said.

The diplomatic visit comes two weeks after U.S. forces entered Syrian territory in a raid targeting the head of al-Qaida operations there, Abu Ghadiya, also known as Badran Turki Hishan al-Mazidih.

Syrian and other regional authorities widely condemned what was described as a violation of sovereignty. Damascus claimed eight civilians, including a 16-year-old boy, were killed during the operations.

Baghdad originally had expressed support for the counter-terrorism operation, but later retracted its approval, saying it would launch its own investigation into the military incursion.

Syria warned the United States of "painful measures" if Washington does not explain the Oct. 26 raid.