By Desmond Nleya
The United States Embassy in Riyadh was struck by two drones early Tuesday, sparking a limited fire at the diplomatic compound, according to Saudi authorities.
Saudi Arabia’s Ministry of Defense said the blaze was quickly contained and described the damage as “minor material damage” to the compound. There were no reported casualties, and the embassy building was reportedly empty at the time of the attack.
Black smoke was seen rising over Riyadh’s Diplomatic Quarter, which houses multiple foreign missions. A source close to the Saudi military told AFP that air defence systems intercepted four drones targeting the area.
The US president, Donald Trump, told NewsNation that a response to the embassy attack and the reported killing of American service members would be made clear soon, stating: “You’ll find out soon.”
The US Embassy also issued a “shelter in place” advisory for American citizens in Riyadh, Jeddah and Dhahran, urging them to avoid the embassy until further notice.
Iran Claims Strike on US Base in Bahrain
Separately, Iran’s Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) said it launched a large-scale drone and missile attack on a US airbase in Bahrain.
In a statement carried by the state-run Islamic Republic News Agency, the IRGC claimed its naval forces fired 20 drones and three missiles at the US base in the Sheikh Isa area, alleging that the facility’s main command headquarters was destroyed. No independent confirmation of the damage was immediately available.
The developments mark a sharp escalation in tensions across the Gulf, as Iran continues retaliatory strikes following recent US and Israeli attacks on its territory. Gulf states hosting US military assets are facing heightened security concerns amid the widening regional confrontation.
