Saudi Arabia closes embassy in Syria DAMASCUS, Syria, March 14 (UPI) -- Saudi Arabia has closed its embassy in Damascus, Syria, the Saudi Foreign Affairs Ministry said Wednesday. A ministry source said in a statement the decision to pull out its diplomats and staff was made in light of the Syrian government's ongoing crackdown on Syrians seeking the ouster of President Bashar Assad, the Saudi Press Agency reported. Saudi Arabia and other Arab states in the region have been trying to convince Assad to step down and Western nations have been exerting pressure, as well, thus far with no success. At least 7,500 people have died in Syria in the past year.