attack in the strongest possible terms. cnn foreign affairs correspondent jill dougherty is at the state department. we heard some strong words. any action to follow? reporter: no action because really what they have to do is get the syrian government to protect these diplomats. it is not just the u.s., candy. it is the french have gone through some similar things. but so far these incidents seem to be escalating. listen to what secretary clinton said specifically about protecting those diplomats. this attempt to intimidate our diplomats through violence is wholly unjustified. we immediately raised this incident with the syrian government and we are demanding that they take every possible step to protect our diplomats according to their obligations under international law. reporter: so that is the u.s. position, candy is that this is basically ginned up by the syrian government, having people coming out to attack or do something to the u.s. ambassador and others. now,