US closes embassy in Damascus, brings diplomats home

US closes embassy in Damascus, brings diplomats home

WASHINGTON - Reuters

A view of the US Embassy in Damascus. AP file photo

The United States announced today it was closing its embassy in Syria due to the worsening security situation, further isolating Damascus over its bloody crackdown on anti-government protests.
 
The State Department said in a statement that the embassy had suspended operations and that U.S. ambassador to Syria, Robert Ford, and all embassy personnel had departed the country.