Everything You Need to Know About the U.S. Embassy Closures

Find out why they're closed, for how long and more.

Everything You Need to Know About the U.S. Embassy Closures - Amid the threat of a possible attack, the U.S. State Department announced last week an unprecedented closure of 22 embassies and consulates in the Mideast on Sunday, Aug. 4. Initially intended for one day, the closings have been extended through Saturday, Aug. 10, at 19 diplomatic posts, including four posts in Africa. U.S. global travel alerts were also issued. Keep reading to learn which embassies are affected, why they are closed and more. —Patrice Peck(Photo: AP Photo/Ariel Schalit)

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Everything You Need to Know About the U.S. Embassy Closures - Amid the threat of a possible attack, the U.S. State Department announced last week an unprecedented closure of 22 embassies and consulates in the Mideast on Sunday, Aug. 4. Initially intended for one day, the closings have been extended through Saturday, Aug. 10, at 19 diplomatic posts, including four posts in Africa. U.S. global travel alerts were also issued. Keep reading to learn which embassies are affected, why they are closed and more. —Patrice Peck(Photo: AP Photo/Ariel Schalit)

Which Embassies Are Closed? - The sweeping closures extend across the Mideast and Africa, including Kigali, Rwanda; Amman, Jordan; Muscat, Oman; Cairo, Egypt; Djibouti, Djibouti; Dubai, United Arab Emirates; Port Louis, Mauritius; Sana’a, Yemen; and Tripoli, Libya. The State Department has released the full list here. Recent prison breaks in the region, particularly Iraq, Libya and Pakistan, have also been attributed to the closings.(Photo: STEPHANIE AGLIETTI/AFP/Getty Images)

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Which Embassies Are Closed? - The sweeping closures extend across the Mideast and Africa, including Kigali, Rwanda; Amman, Jordan; Muscat, Oman; Cairo, Egypt; Djibouti, Djibouti; Dubai, United Arab Emirates; Port Louis, Mauritius; Sana’a, Yemen; and Tripoli, Libya. The State Department has released the full list here. Recent prison breaks in the region, particularly Iraq, Libya and Pakistan, have also been attributed to the closings.(Photo: STEPHANIE AGLIETTI/AFP/Getty Images)

Why Were the Embassies Closed? - An intercepted message between senior al-Qaida operatives suggested that a terrorist attack was in the works and led to the shuttering. The end of Ramadan on Aug. 7 and the 15-year anniversary of the deadly attacks against U.S posts in Tanzania and Kenya have also been considered possible factors. Current information suggests that al-Qaida and affiliated organizations continue to plan terrorist attacks both in the region and beyond, according to the Department of State. Efforts to conduct attacks may continue between now and the end of August.(Photo: REUTERS/Stringer)

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Why Were the Embassies Closed? - An intercepted message between senior al-Qaida operatives suggested that a terrorist attack was in the works and led to the shuttering. The end of Ramadan on Aug. 7 and the 15-year anniversary of the deadly attacks against U.S posts in Tanzania and Kenya have also been considered possible factors. Current information suggests that al-Qaida and affiliated organizations continue to plan terrorist attacks both in the region and beyond, according to the Department of State. Efforts to conduct attacks may continue between now and the end of August.(Photo: REUTERS/Stringer)

Where Did the Threats Originate? - The Yemen government is “on high alert against possible attacks in the days to come," a senior U.S. security official told CNN. As for the individuals involved, the threat could be coming from the al-Qaida offshoot Al-Qaida in the Arabian Peninsula (AQAP) the same group responsible for the botched Christmas Day underwear bombing in 2009 and another foiled terrorist attack in 2011.(Photo: Courtesy of the University of Texas)

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Where Did the Threats Originate? - The Yemen government is “on high alert against possible attacks in the days to come," a senior U.S. security official told CNN. As for the individuals involved, the threat could be coming from the al-Qaida offshoot Al-Qaida in the Arabian Peninsula (AQAP) the same group responsible for the botched Christmas Day underwear bombing in 2009 and another foiled terrorist attack in 2011.(Photo: Courtesy of the University of Texas)

Have Legislators Addressed the Public? - Lawmakers first publicly disclosed the seriousness of the threat on Sunday on Meet the Press. “This specific threat, that we’ve been briefed about over and over again, [has] reached a new level,” said Sen. Dick Durbin (D-Illinois). The senator revealed that Vice President Joe Biden had briefed him and other senators last week about which embassies were particularly vulnerable.(Photo: Win McNamee/Getty Images)

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Have Legislators Addressed the Public? - Lawmakers first publicly disclosed the seriousness of the threat on Sunday on Meet the Press. “This specific threat, that we’ve been briefed about over and over again, [has] reached a new level,” said Sen. Dick Durbin (D-Illinois). The senator revealed that Vice President Joe Biden had briefed him and other senators last week about which embassies were particularly vulnerable.(Photo: Win McNamee/Getty Images)

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Have There Been Similar Threats Made in Past Years? - Sen. Saxby Chambliss (R-Georgia), a ranking member of the Senate Intelligence Committee, also appeared on Meet the Press, where he described the intercepted message from al-Qaida as "very reminiscent of what we saw pre-9/11." "This is the most serious threat that I've seen in the last several years," he added, pointing out that the NSA’s controversial surveillance programs helped to “listen in on the bad guys.”(Photo: Alex Wong/Getty Images)

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Have There Been Similar Threats Made in Past Years? - Sen. Saxby Chambliss (R-Georgia), a ranking member of the Senate Intelligence Committee, also appeared on Meet the Press, where he described the intercepted message from al-Qaida as "very reminiscent of what we saw pre-9/11." "This is the most serious threat that I've seen in the last several years," he added, pointing out that the NSA’s controversial surveillance programs helped to “listen in on the bad guys.”(Photo: Alex Wong/Getty Images)

Does Benghazi Have Anything to Do With the Current Situation? - Since the deadly attack on an American diplomatic mission in Benghazi, Libya, on Sept. 11, 2012, which resulted in the death of a U.S. ambassador and three others, the Department of State has amped up discussions around the vulnerability of diplomats in conflict zones. Last month’s passage of the FY 2014 Defense Appropriations Bill, which includes an additional $48 million in embassy security funding, confirms that the Benghazi attack has played a large, influential role in how the administration responded to the recent threats. (Photo: REUTERS/Esam Al-Fetori)

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Does Benghazi Have Anything to Do With the Current Situation? - Since the deadly attack on an American diplomatic mission in Benghazi, Libya, on Sept. 11, 2012, which resulted in the death of a U.S. ambassador and three others, the Department of State has amped up discussions around the vulnerability of diplomats in conflict zones. Last month’s passage of the FY 2014 Defense Appropriations Bill, which includes an additional $48 million in embassy security funding, confirms that the Benghazi attack has played a large, influential role in how the administration responded to the recent threats. (Photo: REUTERS/Esam Al-Fetori)

Has There Been Any Backlash About the Closings? - Former GOP presidential candidate Rick Santorum called attention to the Benghazi attack on Meet the Press, voicing many conservatives’ recurring claims of an Obama administration cover-up. “I’m sure if you’re looking at it from a terrorist perspective, you say here is an administration that’s pulling back — that’s timid — and an opportunity to go after additional embassies,” said Santorum.(Photo: REUTERS/Jonathan Ernst)

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Has There Been Any Backlash About the Closings? - Former GOP presidential candidate Rick Santorum called attention to the Benghazi attack on Meet the Press, voicing many conservatives’ recurring claims of an Obama administration cover-up. “I’m sure if you’re looking at it from a terrorist perspective, you say here is an administration that’s pulling back — that’s timid — and an opportunity to go after additional embassies,” said Santorum.(Photo: REUTERS/Jonathan Ernst)

Has Anything Else Been Shared With the Public? - While the embassies are scheduled to open Sunday, Aug. 11, according to the Department of State, neither the real targets of these alleged attacks or the tactics have been revealed. White House spokesman Jay Carney refused to address whether Americans should be fearful of the threats, but he did say that the threat could potentially be beyond the Arabian Peninsula.(Photo: AP Photo/Khalil Senosi, File)

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Has Anything Else Been Shared With the Public? - While the embassies are scheduled to open Sunday, Aug. 11, according to the Department of State, neither the real targets of these alleged attacks or the tactics have been revealed. White House spokesman Jay Carney refused to address whether Americans should be fearful of the threats, but he did say that the threat could potentially be beyond the Arabian Peninsula.(Photo: AP Photo/Khalil Senosi, File)