Two drones struck the United States Embassy in Riyadh early Tuesday, sparking a limited fire and causing minor material damage, according to the Saudi Ministry of Defense.
The embassy compound, located in Riyadh’s Diplomatic Quarter, was empty at the time of the attack and no casualties were reported.
Saudi authorities said air defense systems intercepted additional drones targeting the area, amid escalating regional tensions linked to Iran’s retaliation over US-Israeli strikes.
Witnesses reported hearing a loud explosion and seeing flames and black smoke rising over the diplomatic zone, though officials described the resulting fire as small in scale.
US President Donald Trump told NewsNation that Washington’s response to the embassy strike and the killing of four American service members would be announced soon, saying: “You’ll find out soon.”
Earlier, the embassy issued a “shelter in place” advisory urging US citizens in Riyadh, Jeddah and Dhahran to remain indoors and avoid the embassy until further notice, Al Jazeera.
“The US Mission to Saudi Arabia continues to monitor the regional situation,” the statement said.
