U.S. issues travel warning for Saudi Arabia ahead of Obama visit

The U.S. State Department on Monday issued a travel warning for American citizens planning to visit Saudi Arabia, 10 days before President Barack Obama was due to visit the Gulf country.

It urged U.S. citizens to "carefully consider the risks of traveling to Saudi Arabia," the State Department posted a travel warning on its website.

"There continues to be reports of threats against U.S. citizens and other Westerners, as well as locations frequented by them," it said, adding the Islamic States (IS) terrorist group has directed or inspired multiple attacks on mosques last year in Saudi Arabia.

"Ongoing security concerns" in Yemen and Iraq also added a reason for issuing the travel warning, which replaced an old warning issued on Sept. 21, 2015.

The warning said both Al-Qaida and the IS are planning attacks in the kingdom, including "house compounds, hotels, restaurants, shopping areas, international schools" and other facilities.

It also restricted U.S. government personnel and their families from traveling within 50 miles (80 km) of the Yemeni border, and to the cities of Jizan and Najran, without permission. The warning banned U.S. government personnel from traveling to the city of Qatif in the eastern province and its surrounding suburbs.

Obama is scheduled to participate in a summit of the six-nation Gulf Cooperation Council on April 21 in Saudi Arabia. Endit