Bad news US embassies to shut on Sunday over secruity threat or maybe for more days Libya, Oman, Qatar, Saudi Arabia, Afghanistan and Banglades

[amanat 5]

US embassies to shut on Sunday over 'security threat'

The US will close a number of embassies and consulates, mostly in the Middle East, on Sunday in response to an unspecified threat, officials say.

A state department spokeswoman said the order applied to any embassy or consulate normally open on Sunday.

In the Muslim world, Sunday is a work day. In other parts of the world US diplomatic offices are shut on Sunday.

Last year on 11 September, the US consulate in Benghazi, Libya, was attacked, leaving four Americans dead.

Other embassies are routinely targets of protesters.

"We have instructed all US embassies and consulates that would have normally been open on Sunday to suspend operations, specifically on August 4th," a senior state department official told the BBC.

"It is possible we may have additional days of closing as well."

The official said the state department had "been apprised of information" leading it to these "precautionary steps... out of an abundance of caution".

CBS News reported that among those affected by closure would be the embassies or consulates in Bahrain, Israel, Jordan, Kuwait, Libya, Oman, Qatar, Saudi Arabia, Yemen, Afghanistan and Bangladesh.

Last year, the attack on the facility in Benghazi led to the deaths of US Ambassador Christopher Stevens, as well as three other US consulate staff.

FYI,

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-us-canada-23544515

Edited August 2, 2013 by amanat

[TBoneTX 45,284]

*** Thread moved from CR-1 Process forum to the Immigration News forum -- topic extends beyond any visa type. ***

[KayDeeCee 4,893]

Edit: moving thing at the same time is always fun

Edited August 2, 2013 by Jay-Kay

[TBoneTX 45,284]

You must've beaten me by nanoseconds, Kay-Bone, or I you.

Edited August 2, 2013 by TBoneTX

[Cathi 5,748]

14 in total siting this article from CBS

http://www.cbsnews.com/8301-250_162-57596614/u.s-intelligence-al-qaeda-plot-tied-to-embassy-closings-on-sunday/

Bahrain, Egypt, Iraq, Israel, Jordan, Kuwait, Libya, Oman, Qatar, Saudi Arabia, United Arab Emirates, Yemen, Afghanistan and Bangladesh.

[Dr. A ♥ O 203]

They left out the US Embassy in Cairo is also closing on August 4th. This makes me think there are more Embassies closing than we realize in the Middle East. The US Embassy in Cairo sent out a message on Facebook, a message in email, and posted on their website today, The U.S. Embassy will be closed Friday, Saturday and Sunday, August 4.

What's interesting about August 4th is it is the 27th in the Arabic calendar which holds important significance during Ramadan. In Sunni communities it's known as Laylat al-Qadr or in English the Night of Power or Night of Destiny. The Night of Power is the holiest night of the year.

No one knows for sure what day it is but it's said it's during the last ten days of Ramadan on the odd number nights. Many traditions insist it's the 27th of Ramadan. It marks the anniversary when the Quran was revealed to the Prophet Mohammed.

They say that on the night of power the angels come down from heaven to earth, particularly the angel Gabriel, and oversee things. They have special tasks and can sometimes perform supernatural miracles for those who ask it of them such as a healing.

Many people spend all night in the mosque doing extra prayers, reading the Quran, doing special deeds and extra things for people, or asking for forgiveness, because if they are seen by the angels as getting closer to God on the night of power it is worth more than 83 years of prayers and good deeds.

However, I'm not an Islamic scholar. I'm merely observing an interesting coincidence in the timing of the closing of the Embassy's in a region that is predominately Islamic and currently observing Ramadan.

edited to add: Cross posted. Just saw the prior post mention Cairo. Thanks for the update!

Edited August 2, 2013 by ॐ

[Dr. A ♥ O 203]

Dates of important Islamic Events for 2013 (1434/1435 AH)

Lailat-ul-Qadr - Night of 27th Ramadan 1434 - Sunday - Night of 4th August 2013

[Laila.Jawad 12]

http://www.islamiccentre.org/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=1440:important-dates-for-2013&Itemid=42'>Dates of important Islamic Events for 2013 (1434/1435 AH)[/url

Thanks for sharing

http://www.islamiccentre.org/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=1440:important-dates-for-2013&Itemid=42'>Dates of important Islamic Events for 2013 (1434/1435 AH)[/url

Thanks for sharing

Edited August 2, 2013 by Laila.Jawad

[Laila.Jawad 12]

US embassies to shut on Sunday over 'security threat'

The US will close a number of embassies and consulates, mostly in the Middle East, on Sunday in response to an unspecified threat, officials say.

A state department spokeswoman said the order applied to any embassy or consulate normally open on Sunday.

In the Muslim world, Sunday is a work day. In other parts of the world US diplomatic offices are shut on Sunday.

Last year on 11 September, the US consulate in Benghazi, Libya, was attacked, leaving four Americans dead.

Other embassies are routinely targets of protesters.

"We have instructed all US embassies and consulates that would have normally been open on Sunday to suspend operations, specifically on August 4th," a senior state department official told the BBC.

"It is possible we may have additional days of closing as well."

The official said the state department had "been apprised of information" leading it to these "precautionary steps... out of an abundance of caution".

CBS News reported that among those affected by closure would be the embassies or consulates in Bahrain, Israel, Jordan, Kuwait, Libya, Oman, Qatar, Saudi Arabia, Yemen, Afghanistan and Bangladesh.

Last year, the attack on the facility in Benghazi led to the deaths of US Ambassador Christopher Stevens, as well as three other US consulate staff.

FYI,

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-us-canada-23544515

Amanat jaan salam don't worry they can't do nothing if its written in Ur destiny that u will get ur visa thn in Sha Allah u will

[Dr. A ♥ O 203]

It's been increased to a global travel alert until the end of August.

US Issues Global Travel Alert Due to Threat

I got this email too:

The Department of State alerts U.S. citizens to the continued potential for terrorist attacks, particularly in the Middle East and North Africa, and possibly occurring in or emanating from the Arabian Peninsula. Current information suggests that al-Qa’ida 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. This Travel Alert expires on August 31, 2013.

Terrorists may elect to use a variety of means and weapons and target both official and private interests. U.S. citizens are reminded of the potential for terrorists to attack public transportation systems and other tourist infrastructure. Terrorists have targeted and attacked subway and rail systems, as well as aviation and maritime services. U.S. citizens should take every precaution to be aware of their surroundings and to adopt appropriate safety measures to protect themselves when traveling.

We continue to work closely with other nations on the threat from international terrorism, including from al-Qa'ida. Information is routinely shared between the U.S. and our key partners in order to disrupt terrorist plotting, identify and take action against potential operatives, and strengthen our defenses against potential threats.

We recommend U.S. citizens register their travel plans with the Consular Section of the U.S. Embassy through the State Department's travel registration website. We strongly recommend that U.S. citizens Traveling abroad enroll in the Department of State's Smart Traveler Enrollment Program (STEP). STEP enrollment gives you the latest security updates, and makes it easier for the U.S. embassy or nearest U.S. consulate to contact you in an emergency. If you don't have Internet access, enroll directly with the nearest U.S. embassy or consulate.

For the latest security information, U.S. citizens traveling abroad should regularly monitor the Department of State's Internet website attravel.state.gov where theWorldwide Caution, Country Specific Information, Travel Warnings, and Travel Alerts can be found. Follow us on Twitter and the Bureau of Consular Affairs page on Facebook as well. Download our free Smart Traveler app, available through iTunes or Google Play, to have travel information at your fingertips.

In addition to information on the internet, travelers may obtain up-to-date information on security conditions by calling 1-888-407-4747 toll-free in the United States and Canada or, from other countries, on a regular toll line at 1-202-501-4444. These numbers are available from 8:00 am to 8:00 pm Monday through Friday, Eastern Time (except U.S. federal holidays).

Also if anybody is interested the foreign services committee held a hearing on July 16th about the Embassy Security and Personal Protection Act of 2013. I found it interesting to hear about what Embassies are considered high-threat posts and how they go about evaluating security, ect. Most of the current high threat posts are in MENA since the attacks on the Embassies there in the last few years. I also think it helps explain why there is such a long delay with some of these Embassies processing visas once you listen and can understand the situation from their perspective.

Link to the video here

Witnesses:

Mr. Gregory B. Starr

Acting Assistant Secretary for Diplomatic Security, Principal Deputy Assistant Secretary for Diplomatic Security, and Director of the Diplomatic Security Service

U.S. Department of State

Washington, DC

The Honorable , Bill A. Miller

Deputy Assistant Secretary of State for High-Threat Posts

U.S. Department of State

Washington, DC

Edited August 2, 2013 by ॐ

[Dr. A ♥ O 203]

Some articles are saying the threat is emanating from the Arabian Peninsula. My first thought was Yemen. Other articles are specifying it's in Yemen, Iraq and news to me Algeria because of recent claims of kidnapping and attacks on Westerners on the Mali and Libya borders. The raised threat level seems to have to do with multiple coordinated and recent outbreaks from prisons in Iraq, Libya and Pakistan that have freed senior AQ figures. I knew something was up when we started seeing a string of recent prison breaks in the region.

On July 22 hundreds of prisoners, including senior al-Qaeda figures, escaped from Iraq’s Abu Ghraib prison. On July 27, more than 1,000 detainees escaped from detention in Benghazi. A July 30 Taliban attack on a prison facility in northwest Pakistan freed more than 250 prisoners Source

21 Embassies temporarily closed under the world wide travel alert. Here is the list that may be further updated. Temporary Post Closures and Worldwide Travel Alert

[Dr. A ♥ O 203]

The day before the announcement of the US Embassies closing the US President and the Yemen President met in the oval office and briefly discussed AQAP in a press conference.

Here is the video to that press conference:

Meanwhile, there were suicide car bombers that attacked yesterday, on August 3rd, at an Indian consulate in Jalalabad, Afghanistan.

[Myra&Ashiq 10]

Just read that The State of Dept will keep Several embassies in the Middle East closed throughout the week. Posts to remain closed are Abu Dhabi, Amman, Cairo, Riyadh, Dhahran, Jeddah, Doha, Dubai, Kuwait, Manama, Muscat, Sanaa, Tripoli, Antanarivo, Bujumbura, Djibouti, Khartoum, Kigali and Port Louis.

Those authorized to reopen Monday are in Dhaka, Algiers, Nouakchott, Kabul, Herat, Mazar el Sharif, Baghdad, Basrah and Erbil.

http://www.foxnews.com/politics/2013/08/05/chambliss-sources-terror-chatter-beyond-anything-heard-since-before-11/

Edited August 5, 2013 by Myra&Ashiq