Iranian drones hit US embassy in Riyadh

RIYADH – An Iranian drone struck the U.S. embassy in Saudi Arabia’s capital Riyadh overnight, causing a "limited” fire in the building, Saudi authorities said.

Saudi Arabia’s Foreign Ministry described the attacks as "heinous and unprovoked” and said it had intercepted eight more drones in two cities, including the capital.

The United States quickly ordered its citizens across the Middle East to leave following airstrikes against Iran.

Additionally, U.S. embassies in Saudi Arabia and Kuwait were closed after Tehran attacked both consulates.

The U.S. Embassy in Beirut was also closed Tuesday as regional tensions continued. U.S. officials said the embassy would be notified when it plans to return to normal operations.

The State Department also ordered Americans to leave Bahrain, Egypt, Iran, Iraq, Israel, the West Bank, Gaza, Jordan, Kuwait, Lebanon, Oman, Qatar, Saudi Arabia, Syria, the United Arab Emirates and Yemen, citing "serious security risks.”

But because commercial airspace in the Middle East remains heavily restricted, opportunities for Americans to leave the region are limited.

U.S. officials urged citizens to travel by land to places where flight departures are still pending.

In a post on the social platform

Saudi Arabia strongly condemned Iran’s attack on the US embassy in Riyadh.

Saudi Arabia reiterated in its statement that it has the full right to take all necessary measures to protect its security and territorial integrity, as well as its citizens, residents and vital interests, including options for responding to attacks.

The Kingdom finds that the repetition of these cowardly and unprovoked attacks is a blatant violation of all international norms and laws, including the 1949 Geneva Conventions and the 1961 Vienna Convention on Diplomatic Relations. The convention grants immunity to diplomatic facilities and personnel even during armed conflict.

Saudi Arabia has warned that a repeat of these blatant Iranian actions will lead to further escalation in the region, despite knowledge from Iranian authorities that the kingdom will not allow its airspace or territory to be used to target Iran.