The U.S. Embassy in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia, was struck twice on Tuesday by unmanned aerial vehicles, with the attacks damaging the chancery and leading to a partial collapse of the building's roof, according to people familiar with the matter and a State Department cable.
The State Department confirmed the incidents, stating that "Embassy Riyadh has been struck by two UAVs that hit the roof and the perimeter of the chancery." Following the second impact, smoke persisted inside the chancery, and staff were sheltering in place, one of the people said.
Officials at the post continued to implement shelter-in-place procedures as the situation unfolded. The State Department reported that there were no injuries among personnel at the embassy. Initial accounts indicated no casualties, according to a person familiar with the incident.
Details on the exact timing of the strikes, the origin of the unmanned aerial vehicles, and the broader context surrounding the incident were not provided in the statements cited. The confirmed facts are limited to the occurrence of two UAV impacts on the chancery roof and perimeter, resulting in a partial roof collapse and smoke contamination of interior spaces, and to the continued sheltering of staff with no reported injuries.
The incident left the chancery with visible damage to its roof and interior contamination from smoke after the second strike. Embassy personnel remained in protective measures while assessments and any necessary responses were underway. The available reporting did not include additional operational details or follow-up actions by local authorities or by the post beyond the shelter-in-place status and the absence of reported injuries.
Summary of events
- Two UAVs struck the U.S. Embassy chancery in Riyadh, impacting the roof and perimeter.
- These strikes caused part of the roof to collapse and left the interior contaminated with smoke after the second hit.
- Staff at the embassy are sheltering in place; the State Department reported no injuries.
The facts presented here reflect the confirmed information available from the State Department and from people familiar with the matter. Additional details beyond those confirmations were not included in the reporting.