The State Department on Thursday warned of a “potential, imminent threat” against any United States citizens in the area of Jeddah, a popular port city in Saudi Arabia.
The city, located on the Red Sea, is often used as a gateway for pilgrimages to the Islamic holy cities of Mecca and Medina. American travelers issued pilgrimage visas from the Saudi government are unable to travel outside of the cities of Jeddah, Mecca and Medina, however.
The department urged Americans to vary their routes and times in “all instances when traveling” in Saudi Arabia. It also urged them to “carefully consider the risks of traveling to Saudi Arabia and limit non-essential travel within the country.”
United States government employees and their families are restricted from traveling to several other places in Saudi Arabia, the State Department said as a reminder.
Bombings have rocked Saudi Arabia in recent weeks. Recently, the Islamic State attacked the tomb of Mohammed, a holy site, in Medina. The Islamic State launched four attacks in Saudi Arabia on July 4, the next to last day of the holy month of Ramadan.
A senior U.S. counterterrorism official told NBC News the attack on the tomb shows the Islamic State is now directly challenging and trying to topple Saudi Arabia’s ruling family.
