U.S. intel: Syria funding
Iraqi uprising

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Recent intelligence reports indicate that Syria is funding operations against U.S. and coalition targets in Iraq, U.S. officials said.

The reports indicate several Iraqis tied to opposition groups have been linked to Syrians in Damascus who supply cash, says Geostrategy-Direct, the global intelligence news service.

The officials did not elaborate on whether the money is provided by Syrian officials or possibly from exiles associated with the regime of former Iraqi leader Saddam Hussein.

Syria has become a key opponent of the new government in Iraq. Scores of former Iraqi officials are believed to be in Syria, despite appeals from the U.S. government to turn them over.

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Officials said it is not clear how the funding affects the operations against coalition forces in Iraq.

"Iraq is awash in weapons," one official said.

U.S. Marines in Ramadi last week encountered an unusual assault by armed Iraqis who were well trained and well organized – something that has not been seen since the end of major combat operations a year ago.

The attackers were equipped with AK-47 assault rifles and attacked in groups of 10 to 15.

The attackers disappeared after the assaults, which left 13 Marines dead and 20 others wounded.

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