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Ammon News - AMMONNEWS - Jordanian security forces on Thursday intensified their security presence around the U.S. Embassy compound in Amman following attacks on embassies in Libya, Egypt, and Yemen.

Security forces will begin Friday morning to cordon-off the area surrounding the U.S. Embassy in Abdoun district in Amman.

A Security source on Thursday evening told UPI that the area surrounding the Embassy compound will witness unprecedented security reinforcements.

"There is a clear and firm decision to security forces to confront any transgressions towards the embassy," the source, preferred to remain anonymous, told UPI.

US Embassy in Amman official spokesperson Silvio Gonzalez stated on Thursday that the Embassy has not received specific threats targeting the Embassy compound, stressing that the embassy continues to monitor the security situation and coordinate with Jordanian officials.

"We are deeply grateful to the support of the Jordanian authorities in protecting U.S. embassy personnel, including Jordanian and American citizens.  We are also grateful to the Jordanian authorities for protecting the safety of American visitors and tourists to Jordan," Gonzales added in a press statement obtained by Ammon News.

The heightened security measures comes ahead of a planned protest called for by the hardline Salafi Jihadi current in Jordan on Friday to express rejection of a controversial movie produced in the US that was leaked on the internet and deemed offensive to Prophet Muhammad, a central figure and symbol of Islam.

Under the banner of a "Stance of Anger," the Salafi Jihadi current called on supporters to protest following Friday midday prayers at Al Kurdi mosque, near the U.S. Embassy in Amman.

"We consider it incumbent upon Muslims today to respond to such offenses through any legitimate means," the current's statement said.

The statement considered the production and dissemination of the film "Innocence of Muslims" as an offense to Prophet Muhammad, and a part of the "methodological and repeated policies that offend Islam and Muslims."

The statement blasted Western powers for "facilitating repeated offenses against Prophet Muhammad," at a time that "Muslims believe in all prophets, respect, and believe in them."

The U.S. Embassy in Amman had posted an emergency message for U.S. citizens on its website that various groups have called for demonstrations in front of or near the U.S. Embassy Thursday evening and Friday.

The message noted that Facebook groups have called for a protest in front of the embassy, but Jordanian police have not confirmed the event, stressing that additional security has been deployed at the embassy.

Another group has planned to stage a sit in outside the embassy under the slogan "Be With Us."

The Embassy warned its citizens to avoid areas where demonstration are ongoing as although protests intended to be peaceful "can turn confrontational and possibly escalate into violence."

Embassy Spokesperson Gonzales extended that the embassy is "troubled and saddened by the loss of life of our colleagues in Benghazi.  Our thoughts and prayers are with their families and those who suffered during the attack," referring to the attack on the US embassy in Libya which killed the US envoy there and four other employees.

* Archive photo of security forces at the U.S. Embassy in Amman