By 𝔸bdulrazak Tomiwa

A fire broke out at the U.S. embassy in Riyadh early Tuesday after two drones struck the complex.

Saudi authorities confirmed that while air defenses intercepted most of the drones, the impact caused a “limited” fire and minor damage to the diplomatic facility.

The attack is part of a wave of Iranian retaliatory strikes targeting U.S. interests across the Gulf. This escalation follows recent U.S. and Israeli military operations, with the Saudi Defense Ministry reporting multiple interceptions over the capital’s Diplomatic Quarter.

In response, the U.S. Mission issued an emergency alert, ordering all American citizens in Riyadh, Jeddah, and Dhahran to “shelter in place.” This security lockdown comes as officials monitor further threats to military and diplomatic personnel in the region.

The Riyadh strike follows a similar attack on the U.S. embassy in Kuwait just a day prior. Fortunately, the Riyadh compound was largely empty during the early morning incident, and no injuries to embassy staff have been reported thus far.

Regional tensions are at an all-time high as Iran targets diplomatic and energy sites across the Middle East.

Security forces have now cordoned off Riyadh’s Diplomatic Quarter as they investigate the wreckage and brace for potential further escalations.