Drone Strike Hits US Embassy In Riyadh As Trump Signals Military Response

A loud explosion and plumes of dark smoke were reported near the United States Embassy in Riyadh on Monday night (2 March) after what Saudi authorities said was a drone attack, marking another escalation in a widening regional conflict.

According to Saudi Arabia’s Ministry of Defence, two drones struck the embassy complex, causing a “limited fire and minor material damage to the building.”

No casualties were reported. Witnesses cited by Reuters said smoke could be seen rising from the Diplomatic Quarter, an area that hosts several foreign missions.

The incident comes amid heightened tensions following Iranian missile and drone strikes across the region in response to Israeli military action.

US President Donald Trump said on Tuesday that Washington would retaliate for the embassy attack and for the deaths of six American service members since the confrontation began.

He also indicated a shift in posture by mentioning “boots on the ground,” reversing a statement made a day earlier.

Following the Riyadh attack, the US Embassy in Saudi Arabia issued shelter in place advisories for Riyadh, Jeddah and Dhahran, while restricting non essential travel to military facilities.

Other US diplomatic missions have also been targeted. Embassies in Kuwait and Jordan were struck on Monday, prompting a temporary evacuation in Amman.

“Out of an abundance of caution, all personnel at the US Embassy have temporarily departed the embassy compound due to a threat,” the mission in Jordan said in a security alert.

Protests linked to the conflict turned violent in Iraq, where demonstrators clashed with security forces near the US Embassy in Baghdad for a second consecutive day. Similar unrest was reported outside US consulates in Pakistan.

As operations are expected to continue for several weeks, Washington urged Americans to leave parts of the Middle East. “To all American citizens in the Middle East: your safety and security is our number one priority,” Secretary of State Marco Rubio said.

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