DAMASCUS, 24 March 2004 — US embassies in some Arab countries have urged American residents to be on alert after Israel’s assassination of Hamas leader Ahmed Yassin, which drew revenge calls from his supporters.
“US citizens are encouraged to maintain a high level of vigilance and to take appropriate steps to increase their security awareness,” said an embassy notice in Damascus.
“We expect that emotions and tensions will be extremely high over the next few days given his prominent role.”
The leader of the Palestinian group was killed by an Israeli missile strike in Gaza on Monday.
Similar warnings issued by US missions in Jordan, Egypt, Lebanon and Yemen told US citizens to avoid areas like Palestinian refugee camps, city centers and universities, which were the scene of demonstrations on the day Yassin was killed.
Syria is home to about 500,000 Palestinians. More than half of Jordan’s over five million inhabitants are Palestinian refugees or of Palestinian origin.
In both countries thousands took to the streets on Monday, vowing to avenge the assassination of Yassin. Thousands protested in Tripoli, Lebanon, yesterday.
UK Warns Against Travel to Syrian Province
Britain yesterday warned its nationals against non-essential travel to northeastern Syria, which has been affected by rioting over recent weeks. The new advice relates to Syria’s northeast province and the town of Qamishli, where fighting between local Arabs and the Kurdish minority has left around 25 dead and more than 100 injured.
