The Associated Press reported Tuesday that the U.S. State Department's main diplomat to Syria is planning to retire this month.
Ambassador to Syria Robert Ford announced his plan to leave his post for retirement by the end of February to friends and colleagues Tuesday.
His leave signifies another challenge for the U.S. in its effort to assist in peace negotiations between Syria regime and opposition leaders.
Ford served as the U.S. ambassador to Syria since 2011, but has not been stationed in Damascus since February 2012 when the U.S. decided to suspend its embassy operations due to the escalating civil war in the country.
