The US embassy in Riyadh was struck by two drones on Tuesday (Mar 3), causing a small fire and some material damage, according to an initial assessment by the Saudi Ministry of Defence shared on X.
The attack comes amid ongoing Iranian missile and drone strikes targeting Gulf states hosting US military bases, following recent US and Israeli strikes on Iran over the weekend.
Three sources familiar with the incident told Reuters that a loud explosion was heard and flames were visible at the embassy early on Tuesday morning. Black smoke was seen rising over Riyadh’s Diplomatic Quarter, which accommodates foreign missions. One source noted that the fire was minor.
No injuries were reported, as the embassy building was largely empty during the early morning hours, according to two of the sources.
In response, the embassy issued a “shelter in place” advisory for US citizens in Riyadh, Jeddah, and Dhahran, urging them to avoid the embassy until further notice due to the drone strike.
An embassy spokesperson and the Saudi government media office did not immediately respond to requests for comment. Reuters has not independently confirmed the circumstances of the attack.
