Defense News 06 Novembre 2008

TEHRAN - Tehran's military on Nov. 5 urged U.S. forces to steer clear of Iran's borders with neighboring Iraq and warned it would respond "to any invasion," the official IRNA news agency reported.

"Recently U.S. Army helicopters have been spotted flying close to the borders of Iraq with the Islamic republic," the armed forces headquarters said in a statement carried by the agency.

"Given the risk of their invasion... the Islamic republic's defense forces will respond to any invasion."

The statement has also urged U.S. commanders in Iraq to keep their forces a secure distance from the borders to avoid any risks.

US forces launched a helicopter raid on a Syrian border village with Iraq on October 26 in which according to Damascus eight civilians including children were killed.

A U.S. official in Washington has said the operation targeted a top militant who smuggled arms and fighters into Iraq but officially the State Department and Pentagon declined to comment.

Iran's Foreign Minister Manouchehr Mottaki on Nov. 3 during a visit to the Syrian capital denounced the raid and expressed "the solidarity of the Iranian people with the Syrian people after the American raid."

The U.S. accuses Tehran of training and arming so-called "special groups" who then launch attacks on American troops inside Iraq.

Iran vehemently denies the allegations and says ongoing violence in its war-torn neighbor is due to the presence of American forces.

In October, Gen. Ray Odierno, who commands U.S. forces in Iraq, accused Iran of trying to bribe Iraqi lawmakers in the hope of undermining an agreement that would allow U.S. troops to remain in Iraq after the end of this year.

by vivek raghuvanshi

Source >  Defensa News | nov 05

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