US Embassy in Syria warns of increased attack risk during Eid al-Fitr

The U.S. embassy in Syria has issued a warning to its citizens about an “increased possibility” of attacks during the upcoming Eid al-Fitr holiday, which marks the end of Muslim holy month of Ramadan.

“The U.S. Department of State cautions U.S. citizens of the heightened risk of attacks during the Eid al-Fitr holiday, which could target embassies, international organizations, and Syrian public institutions in Damascus,” the embassy said in a statement posted on its website late Friday.

The statement highlighted potential methods of attack, including individual assailants, armed gunmen, or the use of explosive devices, but did not provide further details on specific threats or identify those responsible.

Eid al-Fitr, which concludes the month-long Ramadan fast, is to begin on March 30, Sunday.

Ongoing security concerns

Syria’s security situation remains precarious following the overthrow of longtime ruler Bashar al-Assad in December, which ended nearly 14 years of conflict that began in 2011 with a violent crackdown on anti-government protests.

Washington has advised U.S. citizens against traveling to Syria “due to the significant risks of terrorism, civil unrest, kidnapping, hostage-taking, armed conflict, and unjust detention,” according to the embassy’s statement.

The embassy has been closed since 2012.

Meanwhile, a French diplomatic source confirmed Saturday that French nationals in Syria had also been informed of a heightened terror risk.

A worker at a United Nations organization, speaking on condition of anonymity, told news agency AFP that international organization employees in Syria had received emails urging caution during public gatherings in the coming week.

Ongoing tensions

Syria, ravaged by years of war, is awash with weapons and remains home to numerous armed groups, including jihadists. Transitional authorities face the immense challenge of maintaining security in the ethnically and religiously diverse country, where new security forces are still at large.

On Saturday, Syria’s interior ministry reported that forces raided a “hideout of (Assad) regime remnants” in the central city of Homs, seizing weapons and explosives intended for unspecified “terrorist acts” in the area.

The ministry regularly announces security operations and weapons confiscations in various parts of the country.