In a precautionary move, the United States has decided to shut down its embassies temporarily in Islamic countries, particularly the Middle-East, over 'credible and serious' terror threats against overseas American diplomats.
Spokeswoman Marie Harf for the US department told reporters, "The Department of State has instructed certain U.S. embassies and consulates to remain closed or to suspend operations on Sunday, 4 August."
"The department has been apprised of information that, out of an abundance of caution and care for our employees and others who may be visiting our installations, indicates we should institute these precautionary steps," she added.
In Muslim countriers, Sunday is a working day and the closure is part of a security measure. The shutdown of the embassies could extend further based on the gravity of the situation, said official sources.
According to reports, the US has been alerted over the intelligence reports of a probable Al-Quaeda attack on overseas US consulates.
CBS news reported the list of embassies to be closed as a precautionary measure. These include embassies in Bahrain, Israel, Jordan, Kuwait, Libya, Oman, Qatar, Saudi Arabia, Yemen, Afghanistan and Bangladesh.
Meanwhile, CNN citing an US official reported that the terror threat is being scrutinized in Yemen and Sanna. As of late, Yemen has actively taken a role in busting Al-Qaeda operations and extremist outfits.
US President Barack Obama had a meeting with his Yemenese counterpart Abdo Rabu Mansour Hadi at the White House, on Thursday, regarding the issue.
The security threat comes at a time when the deadly Benghazi attack which killed four American diplomats marks its first anniversary.
The possibility of a terror attack also lies in the fact that the sacred month of Ramadan will come to an end within a week.
