Syrian Air Force Incursion Into Iraq

At approximately 8 a.m. Aug. 23, Syrian jets entered Iraq's airspace during an attack on the eastern Syrian town of al-Bukamal, which Syrian rebels had taken in recent months. The rebels also took control of one of the border crossings into Iraq at al-Bukamal. Iraqi officials said the aircraft were in Iraqi airspace for about 15 minutes.

Syria has used fixed-wing aircraft regularly to attack rebel positions, but the Aug. 23 mission is the first publicized mission that apparently strayed into Iraqi airspace. Baghdad and Damascus are largely in agreement about the threat that Sunni rebels pose to the Syrian regime, so Baghdad likely does not oppose a brief airspace incursion to attack Sunni rebels.