DEBKAfile Exclusive: US Marines are locked in battle with Syrian troops

Debka ^ | November 25, 2005

[Dog]

Both sides have suffered casualties. US soldiers crossed over after Damascus was given an ultimatum Thursday, Nov. 24, to hand over a group of senior commanders belonging to Abu Musab al Zarqawi’s al Qaeda force. According to US intelligence, the group had fled to Syria to escape an American attack in Mosul. Syrian border guards opened fire on the American force.

[ARealMothersSonForever]

Unfortunately I can not debunk this!

[JustAnotherOkie]

At Global Security there is a blip about an operation from troops in Al Ramadi (Blue Diamond). This town is east of Bagdad. Maybe them?

AMP BLUE DIAMOND, AR RAMADI, Iraq — Approximately 200 Iraqi Army Soldiers and 250 Soldiers from the 2nd Brigade Combat Team (2-BCT) attached to the 2nd Marine Division, kicked off Operation Asad (Lions) Nov. 22, in the Tammim area of southern ar Ramadi. Operation Lions follows Operations Panthers and Bruins, both of which were conducted in different parts of Ramadi. These operations involved Iraqi Army and Coalition Forces clearing sections of the city in order to disrupt the insurgency and set conditions for successful elections on Dec 15. Terrorists operating in Ramadi continue to try and influence the local Iraqi citizens through murder and intimidation tactics. Terrorists linked to the Abu Musab Al Zarqawi network in Ramadi have vowed to prevent the local citizens from participating in the democratic process and exercise their right to vote. Since Nov. 16, operations by the Iraqi Army and 2-BCT have resulted in 32 enemy killed and the seizure and destruction of four weapon caches, to include: surface to air missiles, rocket propelled grenades, numerous rockets, mortar rounds, artillery rounds, hand grenades, landmines, small arms, small arms ammunition and various IED making equipment. “The Iraqi Army has been the main effort in many of our operations. They continue to exhibit professionalism and resolve in securing their country,” said Col. John L. Gronski, commanding officer, 2- BCT. More information on the operation will be released as it becomes available.

[Normal4me]

Canned biographies are not news in my view. Gimme a live speech, interviews with important people or breaking news and I'll watch. Cooking tips, balloons in parades and celebrity tabloid garbage makes me turn it off. That's just me though. :-)

[PAR35]

So basically they just make up stories?

That frequently appears to be the case. Occasionally they guess right, but they are not generally considered a credible source.

[RightWhale]

that recent "almost Zarqawi" raid

A local soldier was shot and killed in that raid.

[HHKrepublican_2]

I seriously doubt that U.S. forces would cross the Syrian border to retrieve some Al Qaeda. Not worth the international complications.

Unless Zarqawi was that "Some AlQaeda"

[saleman]

I see you are a member of the Radical Right Wing Pig Flying conspiracy!!

[Coop]

A local soldier was shot and killed in that raid.

I've still not seen confirmed casualties, having heard four Iraqi KIAs, and/or 1-2 U.S. SOF KIAs. But what's your point?

[SE Mom]

Iraqi army soldiers and U.S. forces will continue to maintain presence and increase efforts in securing the Iraq-Syria border," the spokesman said.

---

See # 65

[LegendHasIt]

I'd say that it is possible.

And I'll also say, it NEEDS to be done.

Debka is certainly not a trusted NEWS outlet, but they do have some sources that get into some pretty 'hot' places that no rational person would go (without armor and airsupport anyway). I'd say that 5 - 10% of the time Debka gets a real scoop that the real news organizations either wish they could get, or really want to ignore and hide.

If , as is likely, it is completely untrue or at least highly exaggerated, will we be hearing some future John Kerry clone reminiscing about "Thanksgiving in 'Thyria' ?????

[Americanwolf]

what international complications... Both Panhead and the UN have know that Syria is on a very short list of places that could face the wrath of the US military... I don't think anyone would be suprised if this occured.. yet I would like to find additional information backing this up.

[Southack]

"I seriously doubt that U.S. forces would cross the Syrian border to retrieve some Al Qaeda. Not worth the international complications."

Oh please. We'd go in a heartbeat if our Kurdish allies in Syria (they oppose Assad) weren't up to the task.

[Americanwolf]

why there have been skirmishes in the past reported by AP and UPI and others....the wire service may still be trying to confirm

[RobbyS]

The U.S. has both Syrian and Iranian military positions in their sights. If need be, they can go in either direction.

[Jaysin]

Debka is definitely not factual and much of it is speculation, but they are often the first to report things.

They are decent at reporting Israeli issues and they will often acknowledge something a few days before the Israeli media reports it.

As a source of credible information--Debka should not be used.

[Southack]

"Anyone heard about this raid?"

All of the public news sources say that Israel is giving Hell to Hezbollah in Southern Lebanon right now, and some news sources mention that the UN Security Council just hammered Syria with another demand for Syria to disarm and disband Hezbollah in Lebanon.

To me, this suggests that Al Qaeda has moved Zarqawi into Southern Lebanon (as we discussed happening earlier this year).

The Jordan wedding bombing was a probe...Jordan turned out to again be tougher than Al Qaeda, so no retreat for them into Jordan. Prior to that, Al Qaeda had hit Egypt's resort districts with suicide bombings...again, probably probes. Egypt proved to still be too tough for Al Qaeda.

This leaves Southern Lebanon if Syria itself won't harbor Al Qaeda...especially since Al Qaeda probably figured out that Israel's withdrawal from Gaza was a deliberate trap to entice Al Qaeda to re-locate into Palestinian areas.

If Al Qaeda doesn't retreat into Southern Lebanon in today's climate, then they just about have to leave the region altogether for Africa...As even Afghanistan and Pakistan are too hot for them any longer.

[bubman]

well we do have to get the troops out of Iraq!!!!

I guess they're going to Damascus!

[Southack]

"How do you prove a negative?"

By exhausting all other possibilities in a set.

If someone says that "it's not 9" and you have a set of answers from 1 to 10, then you simply plug in the numbers 1,2,3,4,5,6,7,8,10. If those numbers turn out negative, then it is 9, otherwise it isn't.

Then you've just proved or disproved a negative ("not 9").

[DTogo]

Syrian border guards vs. US Marines.

HA! HA! HA!

[Steel Wolf]

The U.S. has both Syrian and Iranian military positions in their sights. If need be, they can go in either direction.

Why else would we be withdrawing from Iraq? ;-)