The U.S State Department has issued a travel alert for U.S. citizens about possible terrorist attacks in the Middle East and North Africa by al Qaeda and affiliated organizations, according to CNN and other sources.
Furthermore, embassies in Egypt, Israel and other Middle Eastern countries will be closed on Sunday as a precaution against a "terror threat" linked to al Qaeda.
On Thursday, a U.S. official not authorized to speak publicly about the matter called the threat "credible and serious," and added that it was "directed at American targets overseas," but may not be confined to main diplomatic facilities.
CBS News is reporting that as of 7:00 a.m. ET Friday, at least 17 embassies will close on Sunday in accordance with the State Department's guidance. These closures will affect the U.S. embassies in Bahrain, Egypt, Iraq, Israel, Jordan, Kuwait, Libya, Oman, Qatar, Saudi Arabia, the United Arab Emirates, Yemen, Afghanistan, Bangladesh, Mauritania, Sudan and Djibouti.