Saudi Arabia's defence ministry reported that two drones struck the U.S. embassy compound in Riyadh early on Tuesday, producing a limited fire and causing material damage, according to an initial assessment posted on X.
The ministry's statement said the attack occurred against the backdrop of ongoing missile and drone strikes targeting Gulf states that host U.S. bases, which followed strikes on Iran by U.S. and Israeli forces on Saturday. An immediate independent confirmation of the circumstances was not available.
Three people familiar with the matter said there was a loud blast and flames were observed at the embassy in the early hours of Tuesday, with one of those people describing the blaze as minor. Black smoke was seen rising over Riyadh's Diplomatic Quarter, the area that contains foreign missions.
There were no reported injuries, two of the people familiar with the incident said, noting that the embassy building was empty at that hour.
In response to the attack, the embassy issued a shelter-in-place notice early on Tuesday for U.S. citizens in Riyadh, Jeddah and Dhahran, and advised avoiding the embassy until further notice. The embassy and the Saudi government media office did not immediately respond to requests for comment.
Context and immediate effects
The defence ministry framed the strike as part of a series of assaults affecting Gulf states, emphasizing the continuity of regional drone and missile attacks in recent days. Eyewitness accounts and the ministry's initial assessment align on the facts that two drones struck the facility, a small fire occurred and material damage resulted.
Operational and security implications
The incident prompted precautionary measures for U.S. citizens in multiple Saudi cities and highlighted vulnerabilities in diplomatic compounds during periods of heightened regional hostilities. With no reported injuries and the building reportedly unoccupied at the time, the immediate human toll appears limited.
Further details about the origin of the drones, the extent of the damage and any follow-up security actions have not been confirmed publicly.