A drone strike has hit the U.S. Embassy in the Saudi capital, Riyadh, causing a fire and leading to emergency evacuations of American staff across the region.
The attack is believed to be a retaliatory move by Iran following recent military actions by the U.S. and Israel.
Although a loud explosion was heard, the embassy compound only suffered minor structural damage. Most of the incoming drones were successfully intercepted by Saudi military forces.
The U.S. Embassy in Kuwait has closed its doors indefinitely after a similar incident, and Americans in Saudi Arabia have been warned to stay away from the diplomatic zone.
Fearing more attacks, the U.S. government is reducing its footprint in the Middle East, moving staff out of Bahrain and other Gulf nations for their safety.
Iran has been targeting locations where American forces or interests are located. Just 24 hours earlier, a major Saudi oil facility was also set on fire by drone debris, causing a temporary stop in oil production.
