U.S. Embassy Smashed by Syrian Mob

By James Famodimu, Christian Post Contributor Tuesday, July 12, 2011

A group of Syrian government supporters have vandalized U.S. and French embassies in Damascus early Monday morning in protest over the envoy’s visit last week to an opposition stronghold.

The Syrian protesters smashed windows at the U.S. embassy and raised a Syrian flag, before drawing graffiti at the location calling the American ambassador a “dog”.

Armed with rocks and sticks, protester’s bombarded the embassy compounds and smashed several windows and vehicles.

Syrian nationalists were enraged following the journey to Hama on Saturday by U.S. ambassador Robert S. Ford and French official Eric Chevallier. The ambassadors visited the city a day after demonstrators voiced their conflict to the Assad regime.

The crowd finally dispersed from the U.S. embassy when they encountered resistance from the U.S. Marine Corps stationed at the facility. However, the angry mob then moved on to attack the residence of Ambassador Ford causing unspecified damage. No embassy staff were reported injured.

The mob at the French Embassy was a lot more hostile. According to reports released by the LA times, French security personnel fired three warning shots to scare away the protesters. Reports state that three embassy workers were injured in that attack.

MSNBC has reported that the U.S. plans to address Syria's lethargy in dealing with its citizen’s violent outbursts. A State Department spokesperson told MSNBC, “A television station that is heavily influenced by Syrian authorities encouraged this violent demonstration.”

He continued, “We strongly condemn the Syrian government's refusal to protect our embassy, and demand compensation for damages.”