Iranian drones struck the Embassy of the United States, Riyadh in Saudi Arabia’s capital, sparking a fire within the diplomatic quarter, authorities confirmed.
According to the Ministry of Defence Saudi Arabia, two drones hit the embassy compound in the early hours of Tuesday, causing “minor material damage” and “a small fire”.
Eyewitness accounts cited by Iran Wire reported plumes of black smoke rising above Riyadh’s diplomatic district, an area that hosts several foreign missions.
“A loud blast was heard, and flames were visible at the site, although authorities described the fire as limited in scale”.
Officials said the embassy building was unoccupied at the time of the attack, and no casualties were recorded. Saudi air defence systems reportedly intercepted four additional drones targeting the diplomatic quarter during the assault.
Following the incident, the embassy advised American citizens to avoid the compound.
The strike came shortly after the Embassy of the United States, Kuwait City announced it would remain closed until further notice due to security concerns.
In a related development, the United States Department of State ordered the evacuation of non-emergency personnel and family members from Kuwait, Bahrain, Iraq, Qatar and Jordan as a precautionary measure.
US President Donald Trump addressed reporters, indicating that Washington’s response to the embassy attack and the killing of American service members would soon be made clear.
“You’ll find out soon,” he said.
The embassy attack marks a significant escalation in tensions across the Gulf region. Iran has launched a series of drone and missile strikes against locations in countries hosting American military assets, describing the operations as retaliation for joint US-Israeli strikes on its territory.
On Monday, state-owned oil giant Saudi Aramco temporarily shut down its Ras Tanura refinery after debris from an Iranian drone attack reportedly ignited a fire at the facility.
The developments underscore growing instability in the region, raising concerns about broader geopolitical and energy market repercussions.
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