Agence France Presse reported Thursday that Saudi Arabia's King Abdullah has ordered KSA authorities to "take necessary measures" to defend the Kingdom from terrorism the eve before the Arab leader is set to meet with U.S. officials on Iraq.
Abdullah allegedly released a statement ordering authorities "to take all the necessary measures to protect... the kingdom's security against actions that could be taken by terrorist or other groups."
A subsequent security cabinet meeting was held to discuss the measures in detail and discuss the developing situation in nearby Iraq where jihadist militant group, the Islamic State of Iraq and Greater Syria (ISIS) have taken control of areas in at least five of Iraq's provinces as well as the Al Qaim Syria-Iraq border crossing.
Abdullah's order arrives on the eve of U.S. Secretary of State John Kerry's planned visit to KSA Friday to discuss ways to mitigate the Iraqi crisis.
Kerry is expected to brief Saudi leadership on his meetings in Iraq earlier this week with Baghdad's leadership.
Saudi-Iraq relations are rather tense, with Riyadh accusing Iraq prime minister Shiite Nouri Al Maliki of "fueling" the current crisis by "marginalizing" the Sunni Arab minority in Iraq.
