Eight Syrian civilians have been killed in a U.S. helicopter attack on a Syrian farm near the border with Iraq.

Witness say four US military helicopters violated Syrian airspace on Sunday afternoon opening fire on a civilian building under construction, as well as the workers inside.

A US military official says the special forces raid was targeting a network of al-Qaida-linked foreign fighters moving through Syria into Iraq.

The Syrian government summoned the charge d'affaires of the US embassy in Damascus, condemning the aggression on its territory.

Syria also summoned the Iraqi charge d'affaires, demanding that Iraq prevent any use of its territory to attack Syria.

Syria has been blacklisted by Washington as a state sponsor of terrorism.

(CCTV October 28, 2008)