Saudis say attack using multiple drones on US embassy in Riyadh sparked ‘limited’ fire

An attack using at least two drones on the US embassy in Riyadh sparked a small fire, a Saudi defense ministry spokesman says in a statement, as Iran presses on with its campaign of retaliatory strikes across the Gulf.

“The US Embassy in Riyadh was attacked by two drones, according to initial assessments. The attack resulted in a limited fire and minor material damage to the building,” the statement says after witnesses told AFP they had seen smoke over the building housing the US diplomatic mission.

A source close to the Saudi army tells AFP, speaking on condition of anonymity to discuss the sensitive issue, that Saudi air defense intercepted four drones targeting Riyadh’s diplomatic quarter in the attack.

In the aftermath, the US embassy issued shelter in place notification for citizens in Jeddah, Riyadh and Dhahran.