Iran launched a drone strike on the United States embassy in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia, early Tuesday, causing a fire and minor material damage.
Saudi Arabia’s Ministry of Defence reported that two drones hit the embassy compound in the city’s diplomatic quarter, producing plumes of black smoke and a loud blast, though authorities confirmed the fire was limited in scale.
The embassy was empty at the time, and no casualties were reported. Air defence systems intercepted four additional drones targeting the area. Following the attack, the embassy advised American citizens to avoid the compound.
The strike came amid rising tensions across the Gulf, following US and Israeli attacks on Iranian territory. In response, the US State Department ordered the evacuation of non-emergency personnel and families from Kuwait, Bahrain, Iraq, Qatar, and Jordan. The US embassy in Kuwait also announced it would remain closed until further notice.
US President Donald Trump promised that Washington’s response to the embassy attack and the killing of American service members would be forthcoming, saying, “You’ll find out soon.”
The escalation follows recent incidents including the shutdown of Saudi Aramco’s Ras Tanura oil refinery after debris from an Iranian drone attack sparked a fire.
