Iraq warns Syrian parties of transferring Syrian crisis across borders

The Iraqi Defense Ministry accused on Monday what it described "infiltrating terrorists" from Syria who executed a criminal attack in Anbar province which resulted in killing more than 48 Syrian soldiers and nine Iraqi servicemen. The Iraqi ministry said in a statement that the army will respond swiftly and unequivocally to any Syrian attempt to transfer the Syrian crisis across the borders into Iraq. The statement added that the Iraqi army has been in contact with the Red Crescent and the Red Cross in regards to coordination on the victims' identity and delivery. The statement noted that due to close borders with Syria, a number of Syrian soldiers were transferred here for treatment, adding that after their medical treatment they were due to be transferred to border police station Al-Waleed and delivered through official channels. The ministry added that while they were in the process of transferring the Syrian injured soldiers, an "infiltrating terrorist group coming from Syria," launched the attack which resulted in the many killings, including nine Iraqi soldiers and dozens injured. The statement added such attack is considered a criminal act and violation of Iraq's sovereignty and human rights violations. Earlier, reports of forty-two Syrian soldiers and seven Iraqi servicemen were killed in am ambush carried out by armed men near the Iraqi-Syrian borders, an Iraqi army source said. The source, from Al-Anbar province, said the ambush targeted a convey that was carrying tens of Syrian soldiers who crossed the borders to Iraq after their border guard stations fell in the hands of opposition rebels