US embassies in more than 20 Middle East countries will close on Sunday due to what the state department says is a credible and serious security threat.
It’s instructed embassies and consulates, including those in Egypt, Iraq, Kuwait and Saudi Arabia to close on what is a working day in the Muslim world. The threat is considered to be throughout the Middle East, North Africa and Southern Asia, although it is closing any in Asia.
Meanwhile, the State Department has also issued a global travel alert over possible terrorist attacks. According to US intelligence sources, members of al-Qaeda on the Arabian Peninsula are in the final stages of planning an unspecified attack.
The precaution measures are being taken almost a year after the US consulate in Benghazi was attacked on the anniversary of 9/11, killing the US Ambassador to Libya, Christopher Stevens and three other Americans.