The U.S. Embassy in Syria issued a new security warning to citizens in the country, urging them to leave as rebel groups advance and cause further unrest.
Rebel groups have advanced on Syrian President Bashar al Assad‘s forces, the Syrian Arab Army, in the past week, after he established control over most of the country in 2020 and had four years of relative stability. The country has been largely unstable for the past decade, with the conflict beginning in 2011, but fighting has increased with the latest rebel advancements.
The advisory issued Friday warns that areas of the country affected by the latest instability include Aleppo, Idlib, Hama, Manbij, and Daraa, but are also prevalent in other areas.
“The security situation in Syria continues to be volatile and unpredictable with active clashes between armed groups throughout the country. The Department of State urges U.S. citizens to depart Syria now while commercial options remain available in Damascus,” the warning said.
The advisory also warns that those who elect not to leave the country should “prepare contingency plans for emergency situations and be prepared to shelter in place for extended periods.”
The State Department has had Syria categorized as a “Level 4: Do Not Travel” for its global travel advisories, with the most recent update to the advisory coming in July. The long-standing warning advises that there is the risk of “terrorism, civil unrest, kidnapping or hostage taking, and armed conflict,” along with potential “wrongful detention.”
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The physical U.S. Embassy in Syria’s capital, Damascus, has been shuttered since February 2012, with the U.S. government being “unable to provide any routine or emergency consular services to U.S. citizens” in the country.
The Czech Republic is the protecting power for U.S. interests in the country, but the State Department has previously said the Czech Embassy’s consular services are “extremely limited.” The Friday advisory says that U.S. citizens unable to reach the U.S. Interests Section of the Czech Embassy should contact the U.S. Embassy in Amman, Jordan.
