The U.S. State Department recently released a potential imminent terror threat and travel warning for Americans traveling in and around Jeddah.

The imminent threat warning comes within weeks of multiple terrorist attacks in Saudi Arabia toward the end of Ramadan. The U.S. consulate in Jeddah and the Prophet’s Mosque in Medina were targeted in the previous attacks.

There are several areas in Jeddah for ISIS or AQAP to attack. Areas frequented by Shia pilgrims and U.S. government employees would be the primary places to avoid. Below you will find the overall travel warning for Saudi Arabia.

Overall Dept. of State Saudi Arabia travel warning (Released April 11, 2016):

The Department of State urges U.S. citizens to carefully consider the risks of traveling to Saudi Arabia. There continue to be reports of threats against U.S. citizens and other Westerners, as well as locations frequented by them.  There have been multiple attacks on mosques which were directed or inspired by ISIL in the past year.  Furthermore, there are ongoing security concerns related to the crises in neighboring countries such as Yemen and Iraq.  This replaces the Travel Warning issued September 21, 2015.

Security threats continue and terrorist groups, some affiliated with ISIL or Al-Qaida in the Arabian Peninsula (AQAP), have targeted both Saudi and Western interests.    Possible targets include housing compounds, hotels, restaurants, shopping areas, international schools, and other facilities where Westerners congregate, as well as Saudi government facilities and economic/commercial targets within the Kingdom.  Media reports indicate that Saudi authorities thwarted plans to attack the Al-Janadriah festival in Riyadh, which took place in February 2016.

Multiple attacks on mosques, as well as places where members of the Shia-Muslim minority gather, have occurred in Saudi Arabia over the past year, resulting in significant loss of life.  On May 22, 2015, a suicide bomber attacked a mosque in Al-Qadeeh in Al Qatif Governorate.  On May 29, 2015, a blast occurred at another mosque in the Al Anoud district of Dammam.  On August 6, 2015, a mosque in the city of Abha was bombed.  Most of the victims in that attack were members of the Saudi security forces.  On October 16, 2015, a mass shooting took place at a gathering in Saihat.  Additional mosque attacks took place in Najran on October 26, 2015 and in Al-Ahsa in the Eastern Province on January 29, 2016.  Aside from the mosque bombings, ISIL claimed responsibility for an explosion targeting a Saudi citizen that damaged vehicles in the Al-Azizia district of Riyadh on February 8, 2016.