Two drones launched by Iran have hit the United States embassy compound in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia, causing a small fire and minor structural damage, Saudi authorities confirmed on Tuesday.
Gatekeepers News reports that Saudi Arabia’s ministry of defence said the attack happened in the early hours of the morning when the drones entered the capital’s diplomatic quarter, an area that hosts several foreign embassies.
Officials stated that the impact caused minor material damage and a small fire, which was later brought under control.
Thick black smoke was seen rising above the district, and residents reported hearing a loud explosion as flames briefly appeared within the embassy premises.
Despite the blast, authorities confirmed that the building was unoccupied at the time and no injuries were recorded. Saudi air defence systems reportedly intercepted four other drones aimed at the diplomatic zone during the same operation.
Following the strike, the US embassy advised American citizens to stay away from the compound until further notice.
The incident came shortly after the US embassy in Kuwait announced it would shut down temporarily due to security concerns. In response to the growing tension in the Gulf region, the US State Department ordered the evacuation of non-emergency staff and family members from Kuwait, Bahrain, Iraq, Qatar and Jordan as a precaution.
Speaking to reporters, US President Donald Trump said Washington’s reaction to the embassy strike and the killing of American service members would be made known soon. “You’ll find out soon,” he said.
The attack is part of a wider escalation between Iran and the United States. Iranian authorities have described recent drone and missile operations against countries hosting American military assets as retaliation for joint US-Israeli strikes carried out on Iranian territory.
On Monday, Saudi Aramco was forced to suspend operations at its Ras Tanura oil refinery after debris from a separate Iranian drone attack sparked a fire at the facility. The refinery, which is one of the largest in the region, is a key part of Saudi Arabia’s oil export infrastructure.
