Riyadh, Saudi Arabia — Two drones struck the U.S. Embassy in Riyadh early Tuesday, sparking a limited fire and causing minor material damage, Saudi Arabia’s Ministry of Defense said.
The attack occurred amid a wave of Iranian missile and drone strikes targeting Gulf states that host U.S. military bases, launched in retaliation for U.S. and Israeli strikes on Iran over the weekend.
Residents reported a loud blast and visible flames at the embassy compound shortly after dawn. Black smoke rose over Riyadh’s Diplomatic Quarter, where many foreign missions are located. The fire was quickly contained and described as minor by officials.
No injuries were reported, as the building was empty at the time of the strike, according to people familiar with the situation.
In response, the U.S. Embassy issued an immediate “shelter in place” advisory for American citizens in Riyadh, Jeddah, and Dhahran. It also urged them to avoid the embassy compound until further notice. All consular services in the country have been suspended for the day.
The Saudi Defense Ministry confirmed the incident in a statement posted on X (formerly Twitter), describing it as an attack by two drones based on initial assessments.
Neither the U.S. Embassy spokesperson nor Saudi government media offices immediately responded to requests for comment.
The strike marks the latest escalation in rapidly rising tensions across the region, with similar drone and missile incidents reported Tuesday at U.S.-linked sites in Oman and Bahrain.