The United States warned its citizens Saturday against possible retaliation against Americans following the killing of al-Qaeda leader Anwar al-Awlaki, dpa reported.
The State Department issued a worldwide travel warning that the death "could provide motivation for anti-American attacks worldwide from individuals or groups seeking to retaliate against US citizens or interests because of this action."
The warning did not cite any specific threats, but pointed to al-Awlaki's frequent calls for attacks against the United States and said there could be attempts to avenge his death.
The US-born radical Islamist cleric, who was seen as a spiritual leader of al-Qaeda, was killed in Yemen Friday in an airstrike that US President Barack Obama said was a "major blow" to the terrorist network's most active operational affiliate.
Another US militant of Pakistani descent, Samir Khan, was killed in the attack in a desert area in the eastern province of Mareb, the Yemeni Defence Ministry said.