Panic is mounting after the United States Embassy in the United Arab Emirates issued a rare and urgent warning telling American citizens to avoid all Jewish and Israeli locations amid fears of an imminent terrorist attack.
The embassy’s late Friday alert called on Americans to steer clear of synagogues Jewish institutions venues linked to Israel and any gathering connected to the Jewish community. Officials confirmed the threat level has sharply increased but would not reveal the source of the intelligence.
This follows a blunt advisory from Israel’s National Security Council just days earlier that raised the UAE’s risk rating to one of its highest levels. Israeli travellers were urged to remove all visible Jewish or Israeli symbols avoid communal events and keep away from any site tied to Israel.
Israel has already withdrawn most of its diplomatic staff from the UAE leaving only a small presence in Abu Dhabi and Dubai under strict security measures.
Security analysts say Hamas Hezbollah Iranian backed operatives and global jihadist groups are actively planning to hit Jewish and Israeli targets in the Gulf. They warn that Jewish holidays and the Sabbath present prime opportunities for attacks when people gather in greater numbers.
The threat is especially jarring given the celebrated signing of the Abraham Accords between Israel and the UAE. Even the grand Moses Ben Maimon Synagogue in Abu Dhabi once hailed as a beacon of unity is now on the list of sites travellers are being told to avoid.
No violence has yet been reported but officials stress the danger is severe and the risk could explode without warning.
