Effective February 6, 2012, the U.S. Embassy has suspended operations and is not open for normal consular services. Neither U.S. passports nor visas to the United States will be issued in Damascus. The Government of the Czech Republic, acting through its Embassy in Damascus, serves as the protecting power for U.S. interests in Syria. Core staff representing U.S. Embassy Syria currently operate out of multiple locations as the Syria Regional Platform (SRP).