The US ambassador to Syria has secretly crossed into the country to meet with leaders of militant groups fighting against the government of President Bashar al-Assad.\n<\/p>\n
Ambassador Robert Ford was recalled from Damascus in February 2012 due to what the State Department described as “credible threats against his personal safety.”\n<\/p>\n
On Friday, a US official confirmed that Ford quietly crossed into northern Syria from Turkey on Thursday to meet with leaders of the militant groups fighting in Aleppo and Idlib, ABC News reported.\n<\/p>\n
He was only there for a few hours before crossing back into Turkey, according to the official.\n<\/p>\n
A US State Department official also confirmed Ford\u00e2\u201e\u00a2s secret visit, saying he had \u00c5\u201cspent some time\u201d at a border crossing to discuss the situation in Syria with members of the so-called Free Syrian Army and other opposition groups.\n<\/p>\n
The officials did not provide any additional details about Ford\u00e2\u201e\u00a2s visit for security reasons.\n<\/p>\n
Supporters of the Syrian president had accused Ford of helping to incite violence in the country.\n<\/p>\n
The Syria crisis began in March 2011, and many people, including large numbers of soldiers and security personnel, have been killed in the violence.\n<\/p>\n
The Syrian government says that the chaos is being orchestrated from outside the country, and there are reports that a very large number of the militants are foreign nationals.\n<\/p>\n
MN\/HGL<\/p>\n