Middle East/Persian Gulf

Middle East and North Africa: Security Alert

Date: December 20th, 2005 |

The U.S. State Department has reissued its public announcement alerting Americans to ongoing security concerns throughout the region. The announcement cites credible information indicating that terrorist groups continue to plan attacks against U.S. interests, and that these attacks could target areas where Westerners congregate, such as restaurants, hotels, shopping areas, movie theaters, bars o [read more]

Worldwide Caution from U.S. State Department

Date: December 13th, 2005 |

No Comments

The U.S. State Department reissued its Worldwide Caution warning of the threat of terrorist actions against U.S. citizens and interests overseas. Al-Qaeda and its affiliates continue to plot attacks in many regions, including Africa, Asia, Europe and the Middle East. The November 9 hotel bombings in Amman, Jordan illustrate terrorists� willingness to attack soft targets, [read more]

Saudi Arabia: Terrorist Threat

Date: July 23rd, 2005 |

No Comments

The U.S. Embassy in Riyadh has received indications of �operational planning for a terrorist attack or attacks in the Kingdom.� In the past, this sort of information has proved accurate. Thus far there is no specific information on targets or timing, but terrorists have targeted housing compounds and other areas where Westerners c [read more]

Saudi Arabia

Date: December 7th, 2004 |

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An attack on the U.S. Consulate General in Jiddah by militants affiliated with al-Qaeda killed nine and showed that the terrorist group remains a threat in the kingdom despite harsh crackdowns by Saudi authorities. No Americans were killed in the attack in which four of the five terrorists died. The Consulate is heavily fortified and [read more]

Middle East and North Africa

Date: August 24th, 2004 |

No Comments

On Aug. 21 the U.S. State Department updated its public announcement alerting Americans to the risks of travel in the Middle East and North Africa, citing the Aug. 20 U.S. indictment of key Hamas figures as a possible excuse for targeting Americans or U.S. interests in the region. The announcement raised concerns that extremists may [read more]

United Arab Emirates: Dangerous Drivers

Date: December 20th, 2005 |

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The Persian Gulf countries have some of the world�s highest auto accident rates, with traffic deaths now the second-leading cause of death, after heart disease. According to the World Health Organization, countries in the Eastern Mediterranean region, including most Arab countries, has a traffic accident death rate of 26.3 per 100,000 population. Only Africa is [read more]

Middle East: Increased Security for Ramadan

Date: October 4th, 2005 |

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Arab governments are on alert for potential terrorist threats during Ramadan, a time that has seen a surge of attacks in recent years. The Muslim holy month is a time of prayer and introspection, festivity and celebration, a time when good deeds are multiplied by ten. For the militant who believes terrorism against the West [read more]

Qatar

Date: March 22nd, 2005 |

No Comments

The first suicide car bombing in this Persian Gulf state killed two, including a British man, wounded 15 others and raised fears that terrorism had arrived in this generally friendly nation. A previously unknown group claimed responsibility for the attack and vowed to carry out more against churches and �crusader� facilities, and specifically threatened the [read more]

Middle East and North Africa

Date: November 16th, 2004 |

No Comments

The U.S. State Department has reissued its public announcement warning of the “possibility for violent actions against U.S. citizens and interests in the region. Anti-American violence could include possible terrorist actions against aviation, ground transportation and maritime interests, specifically in the Middle East, including the Red Sea, Persian Gulf, the Arabian Peninsula and North Africa.” [read more]

Middle East and North Africa

Date: June 22nd, 2004 |

No Comments

The U.S. State Department updated its public announcement for the Middle East and North Africa to warn that extremists may be planning attacks against “Westerners and oil workers in the Persian Gulf region, beyond Saudi Arabia.” The recent attacks in Saudi Arabia were preceded by extensive surveillance, and the State Department believes that these extremists [read more]