Special to WorldTribune.com

WASHINGTON — The United States has shut embassies throughout the Middle East after being alerted to an imminent Al Qaida
attack.

Officials said the State Department has ordered the closure of embassies
in such Middle East states as Bahrain, Egypt, Iraq, Kuwait and Libya. They
said 22 embassies would be closed from Aug. 4 and could remain shut for
weeks.
“Current information suggests that Al Qaida and affiliated organizations continue to plan terrorist attacks both in the region and beyond, and that they may focus efforts to conduct attacks in the period between now and the end of August,” the State Department said.

On Aug. 2, the State Department refused to specify the threat to U.S. diplomatic facilities. But department deputy spokeswoman Marie Harf said the alert was based on “specific threat information or security considerations.”

“It’s specifically Aug. 4,” Ms. Harf said. “Of course, depending on our analysis, individual U.S. embassies and consulates will announce whether or
not they are open and whether they are implementing restrictions or other measures.”

The State Department keeps its embassies in Arab countries open on
Sunday. Officials said the department was also implementing security
measures to prevent a takeover as that which took place at the U.S.
consulate in Benghazi, Libya in September 2012.

“Terrorists may elect to use a variety of means and weapons and target
both official and private interests,” the State Department said. “U.S.
citizens are reminded of the potential for terrorists to attack public
transportation systems and other tourist infrastructure.”

The administration of President Barack Obama has briefed Congress on the
latest Al Qaida threat. Officials said Al Qaida could also target NATO and
other U.S. allies as well. Britain, France and Germany have also closed
embassies in Yemen.

“We got intelligence, and not just the normal chitchat, that there could
be an attack on Americans or our allies,” Rep. C.A. Dutch Ruppersberger, the
ranking Democrat on the House Intelligence Committee, said.

  Al Qaida, Benghazi, Marie Harf, Rep. Dutch Ruppersberger, U.S. shutters 22 Mideast embassies after warning on resurgent Al Qaida