The United States has pulled out its ambassador to Syria, citing security concerns. The U.S. State Department says Robert Ford has returned to Washington following threats on his personal safety. The U.S. embassy in Damascus has confirmed Ford is no longer in the country but says he was not formally recalled. Ford has angered the regime of Syrian President Bashar al-Assad for backing Syria’s protest movement. At least 3,000 civilians have been killed, and numerous human rights abuses have been reported in the Assad regime’s crackdown so far this year.