Drone Strike Hits US Embassy in Riyadh, Causing Fire

The United States Embassy in Riyadh was struck by a drone attack in the early hours of Tuesday, causing a fire and material damage within the diplomatic compound, according to Saudi officials.

Saudi Arabia’s Ministry of Defence reported that two drones targeted the embassy, resulting in what it described as “minor material damage” and a small fire. Air defence systems successfully intercepted four other drones that were part of the assault on the capital’s diplomatic quarter, which houses numerous foreign missions.

Iranian state-linked outlet Iran Wire reported that plumes of black smoke were seen rising over the area and that a loud blast was heard, though authorities maintained the resulting fire was limited in scale. The embassy building was reportedly unoccupied at the time, and no casualties have been recorded.

In response to the attack, the US Embassy issued a security alert advising American citizens to avoid the compound.

The strike on the Riyadh embassy occurred amid a series of incidents across the Gulf region. It followed a separate security issue at the US Embassy in Kuwait, which announced it would remain closed until further notice. As a precautionary measure, the US State Department has ordered the departure of non-emergency personnel and eligible family members from the embassies in Kuwait, Bahrain, Iraq, Qatar, and Jordan.

When questioned by reporters about the attack and the recent killing of American service members, US President Donald Trump indicated that a response is forthcoming, stating, “You’ll find out soon.”

The attack is the latest in an escalation of hostilities across the Gulf. Iran has launched drone and missile strikes on targets in nations hosting US military assets, framing the actions as retaliation for joint US-Israeli strikes on its territory.

In a related development, state-owned oil company Saudi Aramco temporarily shut down its Ras Tanura refinery on Monday after debris from a separate Iranian drone strike sparked a fire at the facility.