“Ambassador Robert Ford was brought back to Washington as a result of credible threats against his personal safety in Syria,” State Department spokesman Mark Toner said.

Ambassador Ford left Syria on October 22 for a “two-week vacation,” a second secretary at the US embassy in Syria's capital of Damascus said.

One day earlier, Ford was hit with eggs and tomatoes while he was visiting the central Midan neighborhood of Damascus.

Ford paid controversial visits to many restive areas in Syria recently in a show of support to anti-government protestors.

Syria has been plagued by unrest since mid-March when protests against President Bashar Assad's government erupted.

More than 3,000 people including army and security members have been killed in the turmoil, according to figures released by the United Nations.