The United States has urged its citizens not to travel to Syria due to ongoing violence and civil unrest in that Middle East country.
In an updated Travel Warning issued on Wednesday, the State Department urged U.S. citizens currently in Syria to depart immediately while commercial transportation is available. The number of airlines serving Syria has decreased significantly since the summer months, and many of the remaining airlines have reduced frequency of their flights.
U.S. citizens who must remain in Syria have been advised to limit non-essential travel within the country. For the time being, the Embassy continues to provide passport services, as well as other emergency services to U.S. citizens. However, staff levels at the Embassy are being further reduced.
The State Department has warned that Visa services for immediate relatives of U.S. citizens may also be affected due to staffing levels. It also made it clear that its ability to assist U.S. citizens in an emergency is extremely limited and may be further constrained by the fluid security situation.
Since March, demonstrations throughout Syria have been violently suppressed by Syrian security forces, resulting in thousands of deaths, injuries, and detentions. In recent days, violence has escalated in Syrian cities, including capital Damascus.
The State Department has warned that "demonstrations and violent government reactions to them can occur with little or no warning anytime and anywhere." Recent demonstrations have occurred on university campuses, main streets, public squares, mosques, and other places of public gathering. It warned of the possibility of "anyone caught in the vicinity of demonstrations being detained."
On July 11, the U.S. Embassy and other foreign missions in Damascus were attacked by people participating in a pro-government demonstration, resulting in the U.S. Embassy closing for a day. U.S. citizens were reminded that even demonstrations intended to be peaceful can turn confrontational and escalate into violence. They were urged to avoid the areas of demonstrations if possible and to exercise caution if within the vicinity of a demonstration.
Several cities, including Damascus, have been placed under heightened security. Travelers on Syrian roads have encountered an increased number of checkpoints and roadblocks, impeding travel and preventing entry to or exit from affected cities.
Syrian government constraints on diplomats and international staff, including the short-term detention of accredited diplomats, have made it difficult for U.S. Embassy personnel to adequately assess the current risks or the potential for continuing violence. The Syrian government has repeatedly denied permission to allow U.S. diplomats to travel within Syria, severely limiting the ability of Consular officers to provide assistance to U.S. citizens outside the city of Damascus.
On August 18, several countries, including the United States, called upon Syrian President Bashar al-Assad to step aside. Further, the United States imposed additional sanctions against the Syrian Government.
The State Department reminded U.S. citizens and residents that under the current sanctions, activities such as working in Syria or paying business or employment-related fees to the Syrian government are violations of U.S. law. U.S. banks and credit card companies are also prohibited from providing services, drastically limiting U.S. citizens' and residents' ability to withdraw cash or conduct commercial transactions.
However, U.S. nationals residing in Syria are authorized to pay their personal living expenses in Syria and to engage in other transactions, including with the Syrian government, that are ordinarily incident and necessary to their personal maintenance within Syria.
Syrian efforts to attribute the current civil unrest to external influences have led to an increase in anti-foreigner sentiment. Detained U.S. citizens may find themselves subject to allegations of incitement or espionage. Syrian authorities generally do not notify the U.S. Embassy of the arrest of a U.S. citizen until days or weeks after the arrest. Moreover, in the past, security officials have not responded to U.S. Embassy requests for Consular access, especially in cases of persons detained for "security" reasons. There have been numerous credible reports of torture in Syrian prisons.
The State Department advised travelers to heed directions given by Syrian police and/or security officials and to carry copies of their passports as proof of citizenship and identity. Taking photographs of demonstrations, public gatherings, or anything that could be perceived as being of military or security interest may result in questioning, detention, and/or confiscation of the images. Sharing politically sensitive information via social media can also result in targeting by Syrian security forces. Additionally, U.S. citizens have also been cautioned against exhibiting disrespect toward political symbols or conversations on the topics of politics, religion, and other social issues as it could lead to arrest.
The Travel Warning directs U.S. citizens to stay current with media coverage of local events and to keep in regular contact with family and friends.
U.S. citizens living or traveling in Syria are encouraged to enroll in the Department of State's Smart Traveler Enrollment Program (STEP)to receive updated information on travel and security within Syria.
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