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Washington exaggerated the number of foreign fighters in Iraq to justify the recent assault on Falluja, an official Syrian daily has said.

A massive US-led assault on Falluja began 10 days ago with the alleged aim of wresting control of the city from foreign fighters. The US says the men were led by Jordanian-born Abu Musab al-Zarqawi and other fighters opposed to the US presence in Iraq. Washington has repeatedly accused Syria and Iran of allowing foreign fighters to cross their borders with Iraq to join the Falluja resistance. However, al-Thawra publication said on Thursday: "The question of foreign fighters crossing Iraqi [borders] has been exaggerated, given that only 24 of the 1000 men captured in Falluja are foreign." Of the more than 1000 men aged between 15 and 55 who were captured in intense fighting in Falluja last week, just 15 are confirmed foreign fighters, General George Casey, the top US ground commander in Iraq, said on Monday. [more]