State Department Orders Security Reviews at All US Embassies
AP Photo/Julia Demaree Nikhinson
U.S. embassies worldwide have been directed to conduct immediate security evaluations. According to a cable obtained by NBC News and the Washington Post, Secretary of State Marco Rubio authorized Undersecretary of Management Jason Evans to instruct diplomatic posts to carry out “urgent” reviews. The move is motivated by ongoing unrest in the Middle East and concerns that it could spread to other regions. Embassies are required to report their findings back to Washington and, following the State Department’s “No Double Standard” policy, provide critical security information to U.S. citizens when necessary.
The alert comes amid a series of incidents targeting American facilities. On Tuesday, drones and rockets struck the U.S. Embassy in Baghdad, while U.S. posts in Kuwait and Saudi Arabia have also faced attacks. Authorities are investigating a recent explosion near the U.S. Embassy in Norway as a possible intentional act. State Department officials emphasized that security reviews of this kind are standard procedure and do not automatically indicate a new, specific threat. The Washington Post noted that this directive may be the first time all U.S. posts globally have been instructed to reassess security in response to the conflict involving Iran.
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