Blitz Bureau
NEW DELHI: The US Embassy in Riyadh was struck by two Iranian drones, causing a fire and resulting in material damage, Saudi Arabia’s defence ministry said early on March 3, as the Middle East crisis entered its fourth day. The incident unfolded against the backdrop of intensifying hostilities triggered by US and Israeli-led strikes on Iran and Tehran’s subsequent retaliatory attacks on American and Israeli military assets across the Gulf region.
In a sharp warning to Tehran, US President Donald Trump said, “You’ll find out soon what the retaliation will be.”
Saudi Arabia’s defence ministry said in a post on X that preliminary findings indicated the US Embassy compound had been hit by two drones late Monday night, sparking a fire. No injuries were reported, as the building was unoccupied during the early morning hours when the strike occurred.
Following the attack, the US Embassy issued a shelter-in-place advisory via X for Riyadh, Jeddah and Dhahran. It also announced restrictions on non-essential travel to military installations in the region and urged American citizens residing in Saudi Arabia to seek shelter immediately.
“The US Mission to Saudi Arabia continues to monitor the regional situation. We encourage all travellers to review our most recent Security Alerts, review any travel plans in case of disruptions, and make appropriate decisions to keep themselves and their families safe,” the statement said.
“We advise all US citizens to maintain a personal safety plan. Crises can happen unexpectedly while travelling or living abroad, and a good plan helps you think through potential scenarios and determine in advance the best course of action,” it added.
