Jeddah, Asharq Al-Awsat—Saudi King Abdullah Bin Abdulaziz on Thursday ordered “all necessary measures” to be taken to protect Saudi Arabia from terrorist threats after chairing a meeting of the National Security Council to discuss the fallout from the security unrest in Iraq.

The Saudi Royal Court issued the following statement:

“Concerned for the national security of the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia against any measures that terrorist organizations or any other groups might resort to . . .Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques King Abdullah Bin Abdulaziz Al Saud has ordered all necessary measures to protect the gains of the homeland and its stability, and the security of the Saudi people.”

The statement affirmed that the Saudi King had decided to take these measures in response to “current events in the region, especially in Iraq.”

Saudi King Abdullah is set to meet with US Secretary of State John Kerry in Riyadh on Friday where they will discuss the situation in Iraq, where fighters affiliated to the Islamic State of Iraq and Syria (ISIS) are confronting the government.