WASHINGTON—The U.S. issued a world-wide terrorism warning for the month of August due to intelligence indicating al Qaeda and its affiliates are plotting attacks against U.S. interests globally, particularly in the Middle East and North Africa, U.S. officials said.
U.S. intelligence agencies have picked up heightened "chatter" between suspected al Qaeda operatives in recent weeks, suggesting they're pursuing plots against Americans, Obama administration officials said.
The U.S. is specifically focused on al Qaeda in the Arabian Peninsula, the Yemen-based terrorist organization, which includes Saudi nationals among its leaders and has overseen two major plots against the U.S. in recent years.
The State Department ordered the closure this Sunday of dozens of U.S. diplomatic facilities in the broader Middle East, including missions in Saudi Arabia, Egypt, Iraq and Kuwait.
"Current information suggests that al Qaeda 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 in a statement.
It warned that tourism resorts, bus and rail systems and airlines could be particular targets.
An administration official said elevated "chatter" between al Qaeda interests was enough to call for the closing of the diplomatic missions on Sunday, though the official described the threat as "midlevel."
"We don't do that too often," the official said about closing American embassies.
Defense officials said there have been no shifts of assets in response to the embassy closures. Defense officials noted that in recent months the Marine Corps has built up quick reaction forces in the region, in large measure to respond to threats against embassies and other diplomatic outposts.
The Marines have been building up their Fleet Antiterrorism Security Teams, which are used to reinforce embassies.
The Marines have one FAST team in Rota, Spain and another in Bahrain. The Marines also have a new quick reaction force in Moron, Spain and Naval Air Station Sigonella in Italy that can respond to crisis with a few hours. The 26th Marine Expeditionary Unit is also in the Middle East and ready to respond if needed, officials said.
"We have assets that are always on alert," said Capt. Eric Flanagan, a Marine Corps spokesman. "They are ready to respond."
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