An Iranian drone attack on the US Embassy in Saudi Arabia last month caused far more damage than authorities in the kingdom previously acknowledged, and also struck a Central Intelligence Agency (CIA) facility inside the complex, according to the latest Wall Street Journal report, citing current and former US officials. The attack occurred in Riyadh on March 3, when a drone penetrated the air defenses protecting the diplomatic quarter in the Saudi capital and struck the American compound. A second drone followed shortly after, flying into the gap created by the first drone and detonating, officials said.The strikes occurred at approximately 1:30 a.m. and hit a secure section of the embassy compound. According to officials, three floors were severely damaged, and areas including the Central Intelligence Agency (CIA) station were affected. While Saudi authorities initially described the incident as causing minor material damage and a limited fire, sources told the Wall Street Journal that the fire lasted for about half a day and left parts of the embassy beyond repair. No casualties were reported, but officials said the timing prevented an incident that could have resulted in mass casualties if the attack had occurred during work hours.Additional drones were intercepted later that night, with debris falling near a kindergarten.
It is believed that one of the drones was targeting the residence of the most senior US diplomat in Saudi Arabia.“They were able to produce a home-made weapon, fire it across hundreds of miles and put it at the embassy of their biggest adversary, meaning they could have hit anything they wanted in the city,” said Bernard Hudson, the CIA’s former counterterrorism chief.He added: “There was a complete blackout about the actual extent of the damage to these places.”
“This fuels doubts that more damage may have already been done.”This incident is part of a broader escalation in which Iran and allied groups have targeted US diplomatic and military sites across the region. Embassies and consulates in Baghdad, Dubai, Kuwait City, Riyadh, and Erbil faced missile or drone attacks, although none of them caused American deaths.The US State Department said it does not disclose specific security measures but confirmed that it is monitoring threats in Saudi Arabia and advised its citizens to avoid websites associated with Americans.The widening conflict involving Iran, the United States and Israel, which began on February 28, has entered its second month, exacerbating tensions across the Middle East and raising fears of a broader regional escalation. The confrontation began with joint US-Israeli strikes on Iranian military and security infrastructure, prompting Tehran to retaliate with missile and drone attacks on US bases across the Gulf and other regional targets, leading to ongoing exchanges between the two sides.
Not only Riyadh, but US embassies and consulates in Baghdad and Erbil in Iraqi Kurdistan were also targeted, with attacks reported near US diplomatic facilities amid the ongoing conflict. Similar threats and attempts extended across the Gulf, including Kuwait and the United Arab Emirates, according to multiple reports.
