the u.s. government 's actions are in response to growing intelligence that shows a potential for attacks in yemen and elsewhere in the middle east as well as north africa , said u.s. officials .
according to three sources said that such preparations appeared to have increased in recent days with the approaching end of the muslim holy month of ramadan .
story highlights the state department issues a global travel alert on possible al qaeda attacks sources say al qaeda is in final planning stages of unspecified plot rep. king : information is " specific , " attacks " really could be almost anyplace " western targets , not just american ones , are under threat , officials say a global travel alert issued friday by the state department warned al qaeda may launch attacks in the middle east , north africa and beyond in coming weeks , a threat that prompted sunday 's closure of 21 embassies and consulates .
 
see more of the interview with army gen. martin dempsey sunday on " this week . "
( image credit : abc news ) abc news reported thursday that embassies across the middle east and north africa - including those in egypt , iraq and kuwait - will close sunday because of " a specific threat against a u.s. embassy or consulate . "
go here to find out when " this week , " describing the threat as " more specific " than previous threats .
in particular , sunday is laylet al - qadr , or the night of power , which is one of the holiest moments on the muslim calendar .
read : citing al qaeda threat , u.s. interests , " he said the action the terrorist group might take was " unspecified , " but added that the intent was clear . "