The US Embassy in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia, has been struck by drones causing a fire, with the Saudi Defense Ministry confirming the attack and the embassy warning Americans to take shelter
The US Embassy in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia, has been struck by drones causing a fire, with the Saudi Defense Ministry confirming the attack and the embassy warning Americans to take shelter
03:03, 03 Mar 2026Updated 03:04, 03 Mar 2026
The US Embassy in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia, is reported to have been hit by an explosion following multiple drone strikes.
Initial accounts from those nearby indicated that several explosions had sparked a fire.
Whilst these initial reports were unverified, it’s now understood that the explosions have been confirmed. The Saudi Defense Ministry has announced that two drones targeted the United States Embassy in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia, on the evening of Monday, March 2.
Early assessments suggest minor material damage to the building and a small fire broke out, reports the Manchester Evening News.
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The US Embassy in Riyadh has issued a warning to American citizens in Saudi Arabia, advising them to seek shelter due to the ongoing threat of missile attacks.
“The US Mission to Saudi Arabia has issued a shelter in place notification for Jeddah, Riyadh and Dhahran and are limiting non-essential travel to any military installations in the region – we recommend American citizens in the Kingdom to shelter in place immediately,” read the statement from the US Embassy in Riyadh. “The US Mission to Saudi Arabia continues to monitor the regional situation.”
The embassy urged any Americans who may be in those areas to stay informed through official channels and to follow the guidance of local authorities.
The consulate building was empty at the time of the Iranian drone attack, a source disclosed to Fox News. A third drone is allegedly en route to the U.S. Embassy in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia, as reported by FOX.
In addition, the US Embassy in Jordan has been cleared as a safety measure. US officials confirmed via social media that the evacuation was executed “out of an abundance of caution”.
US Assistant Secretary of State for Consular Affairs, Mora Namdar, advised Americans in countries such as Iran, Iraq, Jordan, Lebanon and Israel on X to “DEPART NOW” utilising any accessible commercial transport.
As the conflict shows no signs of abating, Mr Trump indicated operations could continue for four to five weeks but expressed readiness “to go far longer than that”.
He asserted that US forces were dedicated to dismantling Iran’s missile capabilities, neutralising its naval power, preventing it from acquiring a nuclear weapon and ensuring that Iran cannot continue to back allied groups like Lebanon’s Hezbollah, which fired missiles at Israel, triggering retaliatory airstrikes.
“This was our last, best chance to strike, what we’re doing right now, and eliminate the intolerable threats posed by this sick and sinister regime,” Mr Trump stated.
