American School in Syria Closes Amid Pressure Over U.S. Raid
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An American school in Damascus has closed and told students to leave after the Syrian government ordered it shut down in response to a deadly U.S. cross-border raid.
Students and teachers were seen leaving the Damascus Community School Monday afternoon.
A voice message on the school's answering machine says the school was closed to comply with the government's decision. A person who answered the phone at the U.S. Embassy in Damascus confirmed that the school was closing.
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The Syrian government ordered the school to close by the end of the week in response to a U.S. military raid on Oct. 26.
Washington hasn't formally acknowledged the raid. But U.S. officials say the target was a top Iraqi Al Qaeda coordinator, who was killed.