Syria has rejected US accusations that it allows fighters to sneak into Iraq, saying Washington's "threat" of using force was part of relentless pressure on Damascus. "It is regrettable that such language should come from the ambassador of a great power who is supposed to show more commitment to the norms of international relations," Syrian Information Minister Mahdi Dakhlallah said on Monday.The US ambassador to Iraq, Zalmay Khalilzad, fired a strong warning to Syria earlier during the day over help that Washington accuses the Damascus government of giving to radical groups in Iraq. "Our patience is running out with Syria," Khalilzad told a press conference in Washington. When asked how the United States could respond, he said "all options are on the table", including military. "I would not like to elaborate more, they should understand what I mean," he added.
"There is a threat of aggression there, and a style which is reminiscent of colonial eras and cold and hot wars," Dakhlallah retorted. "Moreover, there are old, groundless accusations relating to the Iraqi-Syrian borders. Syria has exerted efforts almost beyond its capacity as a small and developing country to protect the border because Iraq's stability is a Syrian concern, not just an Iraqi concern. Stability is indivisible and dangers most often come from two directions. In any event, we have gotten used to this language from the United States. It represents a clear escalation in a chain of successive pressures on Syria."