US Embassy in Riyadh struck by Iranian drones, limited damage reported, officials say
U.S. President Donald Trump condemned the attack and warned of consequences, signalling that Washington was considering further action in response to the escalation.
Two drones believed to have been launched by Iranian forces hit the U.S. Embassy in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia, early Tuesday March 3, 2026, causing a small fire and minor damage to the diplomatic compound, Saudi defence authorities and U.S. officials said.
No injuries have been reported, and the building was largely unoccupied at the time of the attack, according to Reuters, The Times of India and Al Jazeera.
The incident is part of a widening regional confrontation following weeks of Iranian missile and drone strikes on U.S. bases and allied territory across the Gulf. In response to the embassy strike, the U.S. diplomatic mission issued a “shelter in place” advisory for Americans in Riyadh, Jeddah and Dhahran as a precaution.
U.S. President Donald Trump condemned the attack and warned of consequences, signalling that Washington was considering further action in response to the escalation.
The drone assault on the Saudi capital follows similar threats to American diplomatic sites in the region, including recent reported strikes on the U.S. embassy compound in Kuwait City amid ongoing hostilities related to the broader Iran–Israel–U.S. conflict.
Analysts say the attacks highlight the increasing reach of Iranian unmanned aerial systems and the challenges facing Gulf air defence networks as the conflict continues to unfold.
