The US government has scaled back operations at some of its embassies in the Middle East, in part because of the crisis in Syria.

All non-essential personnel and their families at the embassy in Beirut have been ordered to leave the country, while those at the consulate in Adana, Turkey, have been given the option to leave if they want.

Precautions are being taken at the embassy in the Iraqi capital Baghdad, as well.

Al Jazeera's Rosiland Jordan reports from Washington DC.