Smoke and flames rose over Riyadh’s diplomatic quarter on Tuesday after Iranian drones struck the United States embassy, intensifying a widening conflict across the Gulf region.
Saudi Arabia’s ministry of defence said two drones hit the embassy compound in the early hours, causing “minor material damage” and “a small fire.”
Witnesses reported black smoke billowing over the district, while a loud blast was heard and flames were briefly visible at the site. Authorities stressed the blaze was limited in scale, and the embassy was empty at the time with no casualties.
Air defence systems intercepted four additional drones targeting the diplomatic quarter. In the aftermath, the embassy urged American citizens to avoid the compound.
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The attack followed a separate incident at the US embassy in Kuwait, which will remain closed until further notice. The US State Department also ordered the evacuation of non-emergency personnel and families from Kuwait, Bahrain, Iraq, Qatar, and Jordan.
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US President Donald Trump told reporters the American response to the embassy strike and the killing of service members would soon be clear. “You’ll find out soon,” he said.
The embassy attack comes amid a broader surge in hostilities across the Gulf. Iran has launched drone and missile strikes on countries hosting American military assets, framing the operations as retaliation for joint US-Israeli strikes on its territory.
On Monday, debris from an Iranian drone forced Saudi Aramco to shut down its Ras Tanura oil refinery after a fire broke out at the facility, highlighting the growing threat to the region’s energy infrastructure.
