International Focus today on the U.S. military – both Syria and Pakistan report an American air strike killed civilians in their country.

We have coverage from the U.K.’s Sky News, Haaretz.com, CNN, and the BBC.

Let’s start with Sky’s Middle East correspondent Dominic Waghorn. He takes the perspective that America will have some explaining to do in the next few days. 

“One way or not they’re going to have to explain whether they were involved in this and why because it seems, it’s the early stages of course, but it seems the Syrians are going to be making a big deal about this, raising the diplomatic pressure, and they’re spelling out in detail what they think America has done.” (news.sky.com)

Israel’s Haaretz.com also responded to the reports of a U.S. helicopter strike on a Syrian village. Haaretz.com compares America to Israel, saying, “In this regard the Americans are not alone,” suggesting other countries like Israel “will not hesitate to attack terrorist targets within Syrian territory.” (Haaretz.com)

CNN tread more carefully, treating the two situations as unconfirmed reports.

“Pakistan also claims a US air strike happened on its territory. Pakistani military sources say a missile, possibly from an unmanned US drone, hit a village in South Waziristan, part of Pakistan’s tribal border region, at least seven people may have been killed. No comment from the White House or from the CIA.” (www.cnn.com)

The BBC interviews a witness from the scene, highlighting the Syrian perspective.   

“This woman, in her hospital bed, says she was the wife of a security guard. She said she saw two helicopters land while two others opened fire from the air. She said she was shot when she went out to get her son.” (www.bbc.co.uk)

Should America respond to Syria and Pakistan’s demands for explanation? How could these reported attacks play in the upcoming American presidential election?

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