The United States Embassy in Riyadh was struck by two drones early Tuesday, according to Saudi officials, raising fresh security concerns amid heightened regional tensions.
In a statement, the Saudi Defense Ministry confirmed that the drones hit the U.S. diplomatic compound located in Riyadh’s Diplomatic Quarter. The attack reportedly caused a limited fire and minor structural damage.
Residents in the area said they heard a loud explosion around 3:30 a.m. local time and saw black smoke rising above the diplomatic district. However, Saudi authorities described the resulting fire as small and quickly contained.
Following the incident, the U.S. Mission to Saudi Arabia issued a “shelter in place” advisory for employees and American citizens in Riyadh, as well as in Jeddah and Dhahran, urging them to remain indoors and exercise heightened caution.
U.S. President Donald Trump told NewsNation that America’s response to the embassy strike and the recent killing of U.S. service members would soon be made public. “You’ll find out soon,” he said.
The Reuters news agency reported seeing black smoke over Riyadh’s Diplomatic Quarter, which houses numerous foreign missions. Witnesses cited by Reuters said flames were visible at the embassy, though both the Saudi Defense Ministry and other sources described the fire as limited in scale.
Two individuals familiar with the matter told Reuters that the embassy building was empty at the time of the strike, and there were no reports of casualties.
Meanwhile, a source close to the Saudi military told Agence France-Presse (AFP) that air defence systems intercepted four additional drones targeting the Diplomatic Quarter during the attack.
Authorities continue to assess the damage as investigations into the incident are underway.
