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DAMASCUS, Feb. 24 (Xinhua) -- Syrian Foreign Ministry source said that the Iraqi airstrikes on Islamic State (IS) positions in Syria on Friday were coordinated with the Syrian government.
The pro-government al-Watan online news website said the strikes happened in full coordination between the Iraqi and Syrian government.
Meanwhile, analysts said the Iraqi strikes mark the first actual cooperation with Syria in the war on IS, particularly that the group is losing ground in Iraq.
The Iraqi government of Haidar al-Abadi admitted to targeting the IS targets in Syria on Friday for the first time.
"We have decided to follow terrorists anywhere who are trying to kill our people," al-Abadi said in a statement.
The Iraqi F16 struck IS positions in the Syrian town of Boukamal and Husseibah, as retaliation to two deadly IS attacks that killed dozens in Baghdad, the capital of Iraq, on Feb.15 and 16.
