SANAA, Yemen, Aug. 5 (UPI) -- The Yemeni government said Monday it was tightening security around oil pipelines and the power grid amid concerns about acts of terrorism later this week.
The Interior Ministry said Monday it was concerned about national security ahead of Eid al-Fitr, a celebration marking the end of the holy month of Ramadan. The fast-breaking holiday begins Wednesday evening.
The official Saba news agency in Yemen reported the government ordered the military to draw up plans to protect Western interests and "facilities of strategic importance as well as the oil pipelines and power grids" during Eid al-Fitr.
The U.S. government last week announced it was closing its embassies across much of the Middle East and North Africa in response to terrorism threats.
Oil pipelines in Yemen are a frequent target of insurgents in the country. The official news agency reported terrorists attacked a 250-mile oil pipeline in central Mareb province Saturday.
The attack halted the flow of oil to an export facility on Yemen's western coast. It was the second such incident in less than two weeks.
