Syria, Iraq relations on the mend after U.S. strike caused tensions

BAGHDAD, Iraq (CNN) - Syria and Iraq "have reached a mutual
understanding" on ways to repair their relations, which were strained following
last week's U.S. airstrike inside Syrian territory, according to a statement
from Baghdad.

Syria's Foreign Minister Walid al-Mouallem - who condemned last Sunday's
strike as an act of "terrorist aggression" - telephoned his Iraqi counterpart,
Hoshyar Zebari, on Saturday evening to address "ways to ... contain the
consequences of U.S. military attack on the Syrian town (Abu Kamal)," according
to a statement from Zebari's office. 

Syria maintains that the U.S. strike killed eight civilians, but unnamed
U.S. officials say the strike killed Abu Ghadiya, the top facilitator of al
Qaeda foreign fighters into Iraq, and several members of his network. The U.S.
officials did not want to be named because they were not authorized to speak to
the media. The U.S. military has not confirmed the strike.