Amid turbulence in the Arab World after the death of Libyan dictator Muammar Gaddafi, the White House accused the regime of Syrian President Bashar Assad of an “incitement campaign” against its ambassador to Syria Robert Ford, who was recalled to Washington over the weekend.

The State Department said in a statement that the move was a “result of credible threats against his personal safety,” according to the Associated Press.

"We hope that the Syrian regime will end its incitement campaign against Ambassador Ford," a spokesman said. "At this point, we can't say when he will return to Syria."

The embassy will remain open in Damascus.

In early October, the White House denounced violence directed a peaceful oppositionists in the country.

After the recent assassination of Kurdish opposition leader Mishaal al-Tammoand an assault against opposition figure Riad Sayf in Syria, Obama said the attacks demonstrate the regime’s “latest attempt to shut down peaceful opposition inside Syria.

“President Assad must step down now before taking his country further down this very dangerous path,” the White House said.