While warning about possible al Qaeda attacks against American citizens living abroad, U.S. officials may have provided too many details.
Former and current intelligence officials said that the Obama administration provided too much detail about intercepted chatter and the source of the information, and that may make it more difficult to get such tips next time.
According to the Washington Times, the U.S. State Department had issued a worldwide travel alert for Americans, citing an unspecified al Qaeda threat.
The department said that the highest threat levels are the Middle East and North Africa, 'and possibly occurring in or emanating from the Arab Peninsula'' the report said.
Following mounting terror threats, the United States will close 21 embassies in 17 countries in the Middle East, North Africa and South Asia on Sunday.
The report said that intelligence officials are dismayed that the administration provided so much detail on what prompted the closings, and that the disclosures could work against obtaining new information.
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The officials said that militants are now likely searching for the sources of the information to both the U.S. and Yemeni officials, and almost certainly will kill anyone they suspect of working with Western intelligence, the report added.
Officers said that Washington could have cited other reasons for closing the embassies.