The United States is beefing up security at overseas airports with direct flights to the country, amid officials citing concerns of al-Qaeda operatives in Syria and Yemen developing bombs to smuggle on planes, ahead of the American Independence Day celebration on 4 July.
Although officials have not specified what the security measures will be, US officials told Reuters that actions would be required at airports in Europe, Africa and the Middle East that have direct flights.
The Department of Homeland Security has said that enhanced security measures were taken at "certain overseas airports which have direct flights" into the Unites States.
While it is known that bomb scare has been the major triggering factor for these extra precautions taken, the DHS has not specified exactly which airports or what countries would be affected.
DHS officials have only said that the changes were a response to a "real time" and "credible" threat.
"Aviation remains an attractive target to global terrorists, who are consistently looking for ways to circumvent our aviation security measures," an unnamed DHS official was quoted by BBC.
"As always, DHS continues to adjust security measures to fit an ever evolving threat environment...Information about specific enhancements and locations are sensitive as we do not wish to divulge information about specific layers of security to those who would do us harm."
Saying that the changes will be made in the upcoming days, DHS Secretary Jehnson said in a statement: "We will work to ensure these necessary steps pose as few disruptions to travelers as possible. We are sharing recent and relevant information with our foreign allies and are consulting the aviation industry.
"These communications are an important part of our commitment to providing our security partners with situational awareness about the current environment and protecting the traveling public."
US media have noted that the security measures raise concerns for a large group of Americans as they come during the summer travel season and only a day before the July 4 (Independence Day) holiday.
US national security sources have revealed that the increased security measures come as bomb makers from the Nusra Front, al Qaeda's affiliate in Syria, and Yemen-bases al Qaeda in the Arabian Peninsula (AQAP) are believed to be working together to develop bombs that could be smuggled undetected by the current security systems in the airport.
The main concern is that the militants could blow up the US or Europe bound planes by hiding bombs on foreign fighters with Western passport, who have been with the Islamist rebel factions in the region, security sources told Reuters.
