United States May Close Embassy in Syria

By Douglas V. Gibbs

The massacres in Syria have evolved into violence against all who stand in the way. The U.S. Embassy has become a target, and among those concerns of violence against Americans in Syria, and the brittle condition of security in Damascus, the U.S. Government is considering closing the U.S. Embassy in Damascus, especially if the Syrian government is unable to guarantee security in the area.

The violence in Syria has been moving closer to the center of Damascus, where the American Embassy is, making the streets surrounding the embassy more and more dangerous for U.S. personnel. Other embassies in the area have also been considering packing up and leaving.

In recent months the U.S. Embassy, and U.S. Ambassador to Syria Robert Ford, have suffered physical attacks. Unlike many of the other embassies, however, the U.S. facility in Damascus sits right on the street, dangerously exposed.

Since the U.S. Embassy in Damascus is Washington's eyes and ears on what's going on inside Syria, the preference is to keep the embassy open and functioning.

Nonetheless, last week, the State Department announced that more U.S. diplomats would be leaving Damascus due to the deteriorating security situation there.

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U.S. Considering Shutting Down Its Embassy in Syria - Foreign Policy