WASHINGTON - The United States moved on Thursday to reduce its diplomatic presence in Syria following this week’s attack on its embassy in Damascus by offering free flights out of the country to non-essential diplomats and family members on a voluntary basis. The State Department announced the move in a travel warning that alerted US citizens to “increased security concerns in Syria” following the attack on Tuesday.“The Department of State warns US citizens to defer non-essential travel to Syria,” the warning said. “American citizens currently in Syria should carefully evaluate their own security situations and consider departing.”
A US official said the decision did not reflect any further deterioration in US-Syrian relations, which have long been strained. Last year Washington withdrew its ambassador to Damascus. “It certainly isn’t a reflection of any change in our diplomatic relations or anything like that,” the official said. ”It is just a response to the security situation.”