Terrorist threats against U.S. interests are "pointed at every region in the world, from Latin America to Europe and Asia," said one official. "We are treating this very seriously," he said.
Officials said on Wednesday that the number of threats reported against American citizens and installations "is up significantly." They attribute the threats to worldwide calls for jihad, or a holy war, against the United States over the last few weeks because of the escalation of violence in the Mideast and the recent bombing of the USS Cole in Aden, Yemen.
"We are seeing an uptick in noise," said one official. "And it would be fair to say that it is from Islamic fundamentalists, or jihadists."
The officials say the increased level of threats is prompting the U.S. State Department to issue travel warnings as appropriate, and to "tweak" the language of existing warnings.
Specific travel warnings refined
Last week, the State Department issued a warning for Americans traveling to the Persian Gulf, the Arabian peninsula and Turkey after receiving what was defined as a credible threat.
On Wednesday, the State Department, citing a "heightened threat of terrorist incidents," updated a previous warning for Israel, the West Bank and Gaza to advise U.S. citizens to avoid "shopping areas, malls, public buses and bus stops, as well as crowded areas and demonstrations."
State Department officials told CNN the language in the new warning was modified to include the advice about shopping areas and public transportation "based on new, credible information" about the potential for terrorist attacks.
Officials also said the perceived threat means that U.S. government facilities abroad might address new threats by shutting their doors.
"Don't be surprised if embassies are closed temporarily," one official said. "We are constantly getting threats and information, and ambassadors always have the discretion to advise a closing in an instant if they find it warranted."
More threats since Cole attack
CNN reported Tuesday that the number of terrorist threats against U.S. interests has increased significantly worldwide since the October 12 attack against the Cole in Aden, Yemen.
"There has been an uptick (in the number of threats) since the Cole" attack, not seen since the millennium celebration time frame, said one U.S. counterterrorism official.
The Cole, a state-of-the-art Navy destroyer, was attacked during a refueling stop in the port at Aden. A large explosion ripped through the hull of the ship, killing 17 sailors and injuring 39. The blast occurred as a small boat pulled alongside the Cole.
Specific threats led this last weekend to the highest possible threat condition for U.S. military forces in Bahrain and Qatar, including all ships in the Navy's Bahrain-based 5th Fleet at sea.
CNN State Department Producer Elise Labott contributed to this report.
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