Analysis: Raid into Syria complicates Iraq’s ties

The deadly U.S. raid into Syria might complicate efforts to win approval for a new U.S.-Iraqi security deal by drawing attention to a fact many Iraqis detest – that they can’t control everything American forces might do.

Iraq’s government offered its first official criticism of the raid on Tuesday, two days after Syrian officials say U.S. troops and helicopters swooped into Syrian territory close to the Iraqi border, killing eight people.

The U.S. command in Baghdad would not comment, but a U.S. military official said American special forces targeted the network that smuggles fighters and weapons into Iraq. The official spoke on condition of anonymity because the raid was classified.

In a sign of how sensitive such attacks can be for Iraq’s government, Syria summoned the top Iraqi diplomat in Damascus and demanded that Iraq “shoulder its responsibilities” and prevent the use of Iraqi territory “for aggression against Syria.”

On Tuesday, Iraqi government spokesman Ali al-Dabbagh said the government “rejects” the raid but urged Syria to crack down on what he said are “organizations” on its territory that are trying to hurt Iraq.

A U.S. military official said the target was a network that smuggles fighters and weapons into Iraq.

That strikes at the heart of Iraqi criticism over the security agreement — that Iraqis cannot take control of their own country so long as big U.S. military forces remain on their soil.

The raid could also encourage Syria and Iran to step up pressure on Iraqi lawmakers to reject the deal. Parliament must approve the measure before the U.N. mandate expires Dec. 31, and Iraqi Shiite lawmakers have expressed doubts the current version would pass.

“It will be used against the agreement and will give the Iranians reason to increase their interference here against the agreement,” Kurdish lawmaker Mahmoud Othman  predicted.