- The US embassy in Riyadh was hit by two drones causing a fire and minor damage
- The attack occurred amid rising tensions after Israel-US strikes on Iran's leader
- Saudi Arabia's Defence Ministry confirmed the drone attack and described limited damage
The US embassy in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia, was hit in a drone attack on Tuesday as tensions continued to escalate in the Middle East. A fire broke out inside the embassy compound and the sound of a blast was heard, Reuters reported, citing witnesses.
The incident comes amid mounting tensions in the Middle East following the Israel-US strikes on Iran, which resulted in the killing of its supreme leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei.
The Wall Street Journal, citing the State Department, reported that the embassy was struck by two UAVs. The drones hit the roof and the perimeter of the chancery building. According to CNN, the drones were suspected to be Iranian, but any group is yet to claim responsibility for the attack.
ALSO READ: 'Depart Now': US Urges Americans To Leave Middle East Now As Iran Conflict Shapes Into Regional War
One source told CNN that there were no immediate reports of injuries. Following the attack, Saudi Arabia's Defence Ministry also confirmed that two drones were involved. It described the incident as a “limited fire” that caused minor damage inside the compound.
“Official Spokesperson for the Ministry of Defence: The US Embassy in Riyadh was subjected to an attack by two drones according to initial estimates, resulting in a limited fire and minor material damage to the building,” the ministry posted on X on Tuesday.
المتحدث الرسمي لوزارة الدفاع: تعرّضت السفارة الأمريكية في الرياض لهجوم بمسيّرتين بحسب التقديرات الأولية، ونتج عن ذلك حريق محدود وأضرار مادية بسيطة في المبنى. pic.twitter.com/YuCukrePkH
— وزارة الدفاع (@modgovksa) March 3, 2026
Videos showed smoke rising from the embassy compound, filmed from a distance as the fire burned following the strike. According to Reuters, the smoke rose from Riyadh's Diplomatic Quarter, which houses foreign missions.
JUST IN: Smoke rises from the US embassy in Riyadh following a large explosion. pic.twitter.com/QnSONJ9dA3
— Sulaiman Ahmed (@ShaykhSulaiman) March 3, 2026
Saudi Arabia is among the several Gulf states targeted by Iran in retaliation after weekend strikes on Tehran. As tensions escalated, Iran launched missile and drone attacks across the region, targeting Gulf countries for hosting US military bases.
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