Bahraini visitors to Seyada Zainab area have been moved to a safe hotel, awaiting their return home, following chaos involving Syrians fleeing insurgency zones.
Bahrain’s Ambassador to Syria Waheed Sayyar said none of the Bahrainis were injured, though one of them was reportedly a victim of theft.
It is believed that 24 Bahrainis arrived for pilgrimage in Seyada Zainab on Saturday.
Seyada Zainab, commonly known as Sitt Zaynab, is a town in the Rif Dimashq Governorate of Syria, 10km south of the national capital Damascus.
Several Syrians have started flocking to the capital after opposition fighters gained control over Syria’s second largest city – Aleppo – last week, eight years after they were routed.
“As a precautionary measure, we have moved all Bahrainis from their hotel in an unsafe area to a safe hotel, in partnership with the Syrian Tourism Ministry,” Mr Sayyar told the GDN.
“We urge Bahrainis to be cautious until we can get them back home over the next 48 hours,” he added. “Bahrainis are not being targeted and Syrian authorities are offering protection.
“However, under the current circumstances, we request all citizens to postpone travel plans to Damascus over the next few weeks.”
In a video circulating on social media, a tour operator said that Bahrainis travelling with her were safe. “We will not have any Bahraini travelling to Damascus before assessing the situation during the National Day holidays,” the tour operator said.
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