U.S. Embassy in Riyadh attacked by drone; Saudi Arabia issues shelter-in-place order

Saudi authorities said two drones struck the U.S. Embassy in Riyadh early Tuesday, causing a small fire and causing minor damage to the building, while Iran continued to launch retaliatory attacks in the Gulf.A spokesman for the Saudi Arabian Defense Ministry said in a statement that an initial assessment confirmed that the U.S. diplomatic mission in Riyadh was targeted. “The attack resulted in a limited fire and minor material damage to the building,” the statement noted.Thick smoke billowed from the embassy building, and a source close to the Saudi military, who asked not to be named due to the sensitivity of the matter, said air defense systems intercepted four drones targeting Riyadh’s diplomatic district during the incident, AFP reported.Following the attack, the U.S. Embassy issued a shelter-in-place advisory to U.S. citizens in Jeddah, Riyadh and Dhahran as a precautionary measure. Non-essential travel to military installations in the area is restricted. The mission said it will continue to closely monitor the evolving regional situation and urged U.S. citizens to review the latest security alerts and reassess travel plans to prevent disruptions.The advice recommends staying indoors, staying aware of your surroundings, avoiding demonstrations, large gatherings and police-heavy areas, and following instructions from local authorities. The mission recommends that U.S. nationals register or re-enroll in the Department of State’s Smart Traveler Enrollment Program (STEP) to receive security updates and facilitate contact in the event of an emergency. It also reminds citizens to ensure they have a valid U.S. passport for any short-notice travel.Saudi Arabia’s unified emergency number (which covers police, fire and transport services) is 911. Other emergency contact numbers include the police (999), motorway safety (996) and the ambulance service (997).The U.S. Embassy in Riyadh can be reached at +966-11-835-4000; the U.S. Consulate General in Jeddah can be reached at +966-12-220-5000; the U.S. Consulate General in Dhahran can be reached at +966-13-839-5700. The Bureau of Consular Affairs in the United States and Canada can be reached at 888-407-4747, or +1-202-501-4444 elsewhere.In response to this news, US President Donald Trump said that he would respond soon. The US president said in an interview with NewsNation that the nature of the retaliation would be revealed soon, details of which a reporter for the outlet shared on X on Monday.Earlier, Saudi Arabia’s Defense Ministry said two drones struck the U.S. Embassy in Riyadh, causing limited fire and causing minor material damage, according to a preliminary assessment shared on X on Tuesday.