WASHINGTON – In response to a threat against Americans in the Middle East, a Marine Corps training exercise in Jordan has been cut short and Navy ships have been ordered out of port in Bahrain, Pentagon officials said Friday.
The threat was described by the officials as “nonspecific,” meaning it was aimed at Americans but not necessarily against members of the military.
Officials said it was possible the threat was related to Thursday’s announcement by the Justice Department of indictments against 13 Saudis and one Lebanese in connection with the 1996 bombing of the Khobar Towers apartment complex in Saudi Arabia. Nineteen members of the U.S. Air Force were killed in that attack.
It was not immediately clear whether the source of the new threat was known to U.S. officials.
In response to the threat, several Navy minesweeping ships were ordered out of port in Bahrain, which is headquarters for the U.S. 5th Fleet that patrols the Persian Gulf area. The aircraft carrier USS Constellation and its battle group already were at sea, officials said.
Other additional security measures also were taken, but the officials would not disclose details.
The level of security for U.S. forces in the Middle East – known as the “threatcon” – was raised a notch, the officials said. They would not be more specific.
A contingent of 2,200 Marines operating as an Amphibious Ready Group cut short training in Jordan, the officials said. The Marines of the 11th Marine Expeditionary Unit from Camp Pendleton, Calif., were being taken back aboard their three ships, led by the USS Boxer, an amphibious assault ship.
U.S. Embassy officials in Amman were not immediately available for comment. Jordanian government officials confirmed a joint military exercise with U.S. Marines was suspended indefinitely.
Extra security precautions for U.S. forces in the Middle East have been ordered several times since the bombing in October of the USS Cole in Yemen.
