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US raise concerns about foreign fighters with Syria

WASHINGTON: US envoys last week raised concerns with Damascus about Islamic fighters transiting Syria to enter Iraq, the State Department said Monday, following a report that increasing numbers of foreign combatants are making the crossing. Assistant Secretary of State Jeffrey Feltman and National Security Council official Daniel Shapiro raised the concerns Thursday during their second visit to Damascus since President Barack Obama's inauguration, the State Department said. "We continue to have very deep concern about this issue of the flow of foreign fighters going into Iraq via Syria," said State Department spokesman Ian Kelly.He urged Syria "to take immediate and decisive action, including better screening of individuals entering Damascus airport, increased security on the Iraq-Syria border, better cooperation with the government of Iraq and denying foreign fighter facilitators safe haven within Syria." The administration last week renewed sanctions against Syria, accusing Damascus of supporting Mideast terrorism and undermining Iraqi stability.

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