Drone strike sets fire at U.S. Embassy in Riyadh
Two drones struck the United States Embassy in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia, early Tuesday, causing a limited fire and minor damage to the diplomatic compound, Saudi authorities and international news agencies report. The Saudi Defence Ministry confirmed the attack caused no casualties and that Saudi air defences intercepted additional drones in the vicinity.
Black smoke was seen rising over Riyadh’s Diplomatic Quarter, which hosts multiple foreign missions. Witnesses reported hearing loud explosions before the blaze, which was quickly extinguished.
In response, the U.S. Embassy cancelled routine and emergency services on 3 March, issued a “shelter in place” advisory for Americans in Riyadh, Jeddah and Dhahran, and urged U.S. citizens to avoid the embassy area. It also limited non-essential travel to military installations in the region as tensions rise.
The strike appears linked to ongoing Iran’s retaliatory drone and missile campaign across the Gulf following recent U.S.–Israeli strikes on Iran, though no official claim of responsibility for this specific attack has yet been confirmed.
Heavy fighting and airstrikes continue in Lebanon
Meanwhile, the conflict between Israel and the Iran-aligned Lebanese group Hezbollah remains intense, with Israeli forces carrying out multiple airstrikes on Hezbollah positions across Lebanon, including in and around Beirut.
Israeli statements say strikes targeted Hezbollah infrastructure and weapons storage, describing these operations as defensive measures in response to Hezbollah’s rocket and drone launches at northern Israel. The escalation follows a broader regional conflict that also involves Iranian strikes and U.S.–Israel operations.
Reports indicate that waves of air attacks continued today on sites in both Beirut and Tehran linked to Iranian and Hezbollah forces. Iranian state media acknowledged the strikes but gave no details on casualties.
The violence has contributed to mass displacement within Lebanon, with many civilians fleeing south and suburbs of Beirut and into safer areas due to the ongoing bombardment.