US Expels Syrian Diplomat Over Houla Massacre

The United States is expelling Syria’s most senior envoy in Washington over what it says is the Syrian government’s responsibility for last week’s massacre in the village of Houla.

U.N. observers confirm the deaths of more than 90 people in Houla, including several families who appear to have been executed in their homes.

State Department Spokeswoman Victoria Nuland says Syrian Charge d’Affaires Zuheir Jabbour has 72 hours to leave the United States. “We took this action in response to the massacre in the village of Houla – absolutely indefensible, vile, despicable massacre – against innocent children, women, shot at point-blank range by regime thugs, the Shabiha, aided and abetted by the Iranians, who were actually bragging about it over the weekend,” she said.

Nuland offered no evidence linking Iran to this attack, but said Washington “finds it interesting” that the deputy head of Iran’s Quds Force has since chosen to take credit for the advice they are giving to Syria.

The Obama administration says it took the decision to expel Syria’s most senior representative in coordination with Australia, Britain, Canada, France, Germany, Italy, the Netherlands and Spain, which are also expelling Syrian diplomats.