Drones struck the United States embassy in Riyadh on Tuesday, marking a dramatic escalation in the widening regional conflict between Iran and a US-Israeli alliance.
Saudi authorities confirmed that two drones penetrated air defences and hit the diplomatic compound, causing a fire and visible structural damage. AFP journalists reported smoke stains on parts of the embassy building, while security forces sealed off the diplomatic quarter, blocking roads and conducting identity checks.
The attack comes four days after joint US and Israeli strikes reportedly killed Iran’s supreme leader, triggering open hostilities across the region.
Saudi Arabia said it intercepted eight additional drones targeting two cities, including the capital. Despite heightened readiness, some projectiles evaded interception.
In Tehran, powerful explosions echoed overnight as fighter jets flew overhead. US President Donald Trump warned that the campaign could last “four to five weeks” or longer, adding that Washington had the capacity to sustain extended operations.
On Monday, the United States Department of State urged Americans to “depart now” from countries and territories across the Middle East, citing serious security risks.
Israel has also intensified operations beyond its borders. Defence Minister Israel Katz said Israeli forces were authorised to seize additional strategic positions in southern Lebanon after Hezbollah launched missiles in support of Tehran. The Lebanese armed group claimed responsibility for strikes on three Israeli bases.
The conflict is increasingly threatening global energy infrastructure. Satellite imagery showed damage at Saudi Aramco’s Ras Tanura refinery, while debris from intercepted drones sparked a fire at an oil facility in Fujairah in the United Arab Emirates. The blaze was later contained.
Brent crude prices surged again as European markets opened, reflecting fears that the Strait of Hormuz — a vital shipping lane — could become a flashpoint. A senior Iranian Revolutionary Guards commander warned that Tehran would “burn any ship” attempting to pass through the strait if hostilities continue.
In Washington, Secretary of State Marco Rubio offered a new account of how the United States entered the conflict, saying American forces acted pre-emptively after intelligence suggested Iran would target US assets in response to Israeli strikes.
“The imminent threat was that if Iran was attacked, they would immediately come after us,” Rubio told reporters, adding that US troop levels in the Gulf had reached their highest since the 2003 Iraq invasion.
Iran’s Foreign Minister, Seyed Abbas Araghchi, rejected that claim, insisting there had been no imminent Iranian threat and accusing Washington of entering a “war of choice” on Israel’s behalf.
The White House has outlined its objectives as dismantling Iran’s missile and naval capabilities, degrading its nuclear programme and curbing support for armed groups in the region. Regime change, officials say, is not an explicit goal.
Casualty figures continue to mount. The US military confirmed six American service members have been killed since hostilities began. Inside Iran, the US-based Human Rights Activists News Agency reported over 100 casualties on the third day of fighting, including dozens of civilians, though independent verification remains limited.
Across the region, residents are grappling with uncertainty. In Tehran, some families were seen preparing to leave the capital amid continuing airstrikes, torn between fear of further bombardment and speculation about the conflict’s political consequences.
With diplomatic missions under attack, oil infrastructure damaged and military operations expanding across multiple fronts, the confrontation is rapidly reshaping the Middle East’s security landscape — and raising fresh concerns about its global economic impact.
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2026-03-02
