US Asks Citizens To Leave Syria Immediately

JAKARTA - The United States State Department issued a security warning urging US citizens to leave Syria immediately.

The US Embassy in Damascus, Syria, said through a statement that the security situation in Syria continues to be volatile and unpredictable with fighting between armed groups across the country.

"The Department of Foreign Affairs urges US citizens to leave Syria now while commercial options are still available in Damascus," said the US Embassy as reported by ANTARA from Sputnik-OANA, Saturday, December 7.

The US Embassy in Damascus suspended operations in 2012. The US government cannot provide consular services for US citizens in Syria.

The statement explained that the Czech Republic served as the protector of the US interests in Syria.

The militant group Hayat Tahrir al-Sham (previously known as the Nusra Front) and a number of other armed groups launched a massive operation against the Syrian government on November 29.

They are moving forward from the north in the Idlib region, northwestern Syria, towards the cities of Aleppo and Hama.

A day later, Aleppo, which is Syria's second-largest city, was under the full control of the groups for the first time since conflict began to emerge in the country in 2011.

Furthermore, on December 5, the Syrian Ministry of Defense said the Syrian armed forces withdrew from the city of Hama after being involved in heavy fighting with militants.