(CNN) -- Hours before 22 U.S. embassies and consulates were to close for a day, President Barack Obama met with top security leaders Saturday to review the situation that led to the unprecedented move. A U.S. global travel alert remained in place amid fears that al Qaeda may launch attacks in the Middle East, North Africa and beyond in coming weeks. The threat prompted the United States to announce that 22 facilities would be closed on Sunday, including in Yemen, which was a focus of concern. Obama met Saturday with his White House chief of staff, Secretary of State John Kerry, Secretary of Defense Chuck Hagel, as well as the heads of Homeland Security, the National Security Agency, the FBI and CIA, the United Nations and the Joint Chiefs of Staff.
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NEW: 22 U.S. embassies, consulates are closed
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NEW: President Obama meets with committee of security heads to review the situation
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The State Department issues a global travel alert on possible al Qaeda attacks
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Sources say al Qaeda is in final planning stages of unspecified plot
Referring to the move by @placeholder officials, he said, "They are showing some proactive discretion here, making certain that we don't give the enemy an opportunity that we can deny them."