Turkey has closed its embassy in Syria because of what it says is a worsening security situation, as President Bashar al-Assad continue to bombard the city of Homs.
Turkey informed its citizens last week that it was suspending all activities at its embassy in Damascus and called on them to return to Turkey.
Turkey, a onetime ally of Assad’s regime, distanced itself from Syria when it began its violent crackdown on the civil unrest a year ago, and has killed upwards of 8000 people. Now, it is supporting the opponents of the Assad regime, and recently announced that it would provide “non-lethal” aid to the rebels.
Turkey, which shares a border with Syria, has also had to deal with an sharply increasing stream of refugees into the country.