Special to WorldTribune.com

NICOSIA — The United States has urged its nationals to leave Syria
immediately.

The U.S. embassy in Damascus has urged the immediate departure of
Americans from the Arab League state. In a statement, the embassy warned that
Americans could be stranded in Syria when airlines suspend service to the
war-torn state.

“The U.S. embassy continues to urge U.S. citizens in Syria to depart immediately while commercial transportation is available,” the embassy said on Nov. 23.

The statement, termed a “security update,” came in wake of a decision by the State Department not to return its ambassador to Syria, Robert Ford. Officials said the State Department could no longer guarantee Ford’s safety amid the escalation of violence between the regime of President Bashar Assad and the growing rebel force.

“The number of airlines serving Syria has decreased significantly since the summer, while many of those airlines remaining have reduced their number of flights,” the embassy said.

Other NATO members have also called on their nationals to restrict travel or leave Syria. This included Turkey, which advised its nationals to
avoid Syria during their return from the Haj in Saudi Arabia.

Western diplomatic sources said Turkey and the United States were
recruiting Arab League states to intensify sanctions and introduce military
measures against Assad. They said the measures being considered included a
no-fly zone over Syria as well as a buffer along the border with Turkey.

  Arab League, Bashar Assad, Damascus, Haj, no-fly zone, Robert Ford, U.S. urges Americans to leave Syria while commercial flights still available