No Comment on Alleged U.S. Syria Raid

The Bush administration Monday refused comment on reports U.S. troops conducted a raid into Syria from Iraq.

White House spokeswoman Dana Perino and State Department spokesman Sean McCormack deflected questions about the alleged raid but McCormack acknowledged Syria had lodged a protest with Maura Connelly, the U.S. charge d’affaires.

The United States acknowledged a Special Operations mission involving four helicopters in the border area Sunday but did not release details, The New York Times reported. Syria, long considered a staging area for insurgent activity in Iraq, claimed eight people were killed.

Perino said she could not comment on whether the alleged mission was successful or even if it took place.

The Syrians said the raid was conducted in Abu Kamal, near the Iraqi border.