The latest travel warning said, "The U.S. Department of State urges U.S. citizens in Syria to depart immediately while commercial transportation is available."
He warning, an update to an April 25 order for US embassy staff's family members and some non-emergency personnel to leave Syria, expressed growing concern over the violent crackdown by President Bashar al Assad's security forces against pro-democracy protesters.
Last month, pro-government demonstrators attacked the U.S. and French embassies in Damascus, smashing windows and spray-painting walls after the two Western envoys visited the flashpoint protest city of Hama.
Washington sent its ambassador back to Damascus on Thursday as it gradually cranked up the heat on Assad. Robert Ford had infuriated the Assad regime with his visit to Hama last month, but he has vowed to continue traveling around the country. French Ambassador Eric Chevallier also visited the city on July 7.
Syria responded by imposing a ban on the two envoys prohibiting them from traveling outside Damascus.
Noting that Syrian demonstrations have been "violently suppressed" since March, the State Department warned U.S. citizens that "demonstrations can occur with little or no warning anytime and anywhere, not just on Friday afternoons, as with many past demonstrations."
"U.S. citizens are urged to avoid the areas of demonstrations if possible, and to exercise caution if within the vicinity of a demonstration."
"Syrian efforts to attribute the current civil unrest to external influences may lead to an increase in anti-foreigner sentiment," the State Department warned.. "Detained U.S. citizens may find themselves subject to allegations of incitement or espionage."
It said Syrian authorities often do not notify the U.S. embassy of a U.S. citizen's arrest until days or weeks later, and decline requests for consular access.
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