The United States Embassy in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia, came under attack on Tuesday after two drones struck the diplomatic compound, according to confirmation from Saudi Arabia’s Ministry of Defence. The incident triggered a large explosion, with witnesses reporting thick black smoke rising over the city’s diplomatic quarter.
The development was first reported in a live update by the BBC on Tuesday (March 3). Citing preliminary information, Saudi authorities stated that the drones directly hit the U.S. diplomatic facility, causing an explosion that was heard across nearby areas.
In a statement posted on the social media platform X, the Saudi Ministry of Defence said the damage to the embassy building was limited, though a fire broke out inside the compound following the impact.
“The attack caused minor structural damage to the embassy building and led to a fire, which has since been brought under control,” the ministry said in its official statement.
Eyewitnesses described scenes of panic in Riyadh’s diplomatic quarter, saying they saw dense black smoke billowing into the sky and heard a “powerful blast” moments after the drones struck.
The attack comes amid escalating tensions in the Middle East. It follows Iran’s retaliatory actions after a reported joint military strike by Israel and the United States inside Iran, marking the latest in a series of assaults targeting U.S. diplomatic missions in the region.
On Monday, U.S. embassies in Kuwait and Jordan were also reportedly attacked, raising concerns about coordinated strikes on American diplomatic facilities.
In response to the Riyadh incident, Washington issued a stern warning.
“This attack will not go unanswered. The United States will respond firmly and decisively,” a U.S. official stated.
Security has since been tightened around diplomatic compounds across the region as authorities assess the situation and investigate the source of the drone attack.
Further details regarding casualties or responsibility for the attack were not immediately available.
