During a tour for Western journalists along the Syrian-Iraqi border, the
commanders said the United States has not responded to complaints by
Damascus. The commanders said Syria has not established direct military
communications with the U.S. military in Iraq.
"This is an issue that concerns both sides," Al Khaled said in an
interview with the U.S.-based television network CNN. "There should not be
any lenience from their part in violating the border of a free, sovereign
state."
U.S. commanders, who reported a sharp drop in the flow of Al Qaida
insurgents to Iraq, have privately acknowledged that air patrols have
entered Syrian air space. The commanders, however, said that since 2005,
U.S. aircraft have not entered Syria to attack Al Qaida insurgents.
During the tour, the Syrian Army provided details of its border force.
The army said Syria has established scores of outposts along the
600-kilometer border with Iraq. The outposts were said to lack advanced
communications or reconnaissance devices.
Each outpost, surrounded by a sand wall, contains 12 soldiers,
commanders said. The Syrians conduct daily foot and vehicle patrols.
"There have been many arrests of jihadi groups that infiltrate the Iraqi
side, and they have been turned to the authorities," Al Khaled said. "These
jihadi groups belong to different nationalities, such as Egyptians, Saudis,
Moroccans, Tunisians, and Libyans that fight in Iraq."
