US embassy in Riyadh hit by drones; Centcom confirms six military deaths in Iranian attacks

2026-03-03 - 04:13

RIYADH – A drone attack targeted the US embassy in Riyadh, causing a small fire and some material damage, according to the Kingdom’s defence ministry. The ministry shared the development on social media platform X on Tuesday. The drone strikes come amid ongoing military escalation, which started after Israel and the US launched attack against Iran that is retaliating with missiles and drones. Witnesses reported hearing a loud explosion and observing flames at the embassy early Tuesday morning. While the fire was described as minor, black smoke was visible rising from Riyadh’s Diplomatic Quarter, an area that hosts various foreign embassies. US Military Deaths Reach Six The US Central Command has confirmed that two more service members have been killed, taking the toll to six. “As of 4 pm ET, March 2, six U.S. service members have been killed in action. U.S. forces recently recovered the remains of two previously unaccounted for service members from a facility that was struck during Iran’s initial attacks in the region,” Centcom said in a tweet. CENTCOM Update TAMPA, Fla. – As of 4 pm ET, March 2, six U.S. service members have been killed in action. U.S. forces recently recovered the remains of two previously unaccounted for service members from a facility that was struck during Iran’s initial attacks in the region.... — U.S. Central Command (@CENTCOM) March 2, 2026 Trump Vows to Avenge Attack on Riyadh Embassy US President Donald Trump has hinted that the United States may take swift action in response to the recent drone strike on its embassy in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia, which is believed to have been carried out by Iran. In an interview with NewsNation, Trump stated, “You’ll find out soon” regarding the U.S.’s next steps, though he refrained from offering specific details. The comment follows confirmation from the U.S. embassy that the embassy was indeed targeted by two drones. When it All Started? On Saturday, the US and Israel launched what they called a “pre-emptive” strike against Iranian targets, with President Donald Trump declaring the initiation of “major combat operations.” The joint military action has escalated tensions in the region. In response, Iranian state media reported that Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei was killed in the US-Israeli airstrikes. Following the strike, Iran’s security chief, Ali Larijani, made it clear that Tehran would not engage in talks with the U.S. despite earlier reports suggesting that Iran might be seeking to revive negotiations with Washington. Since the start of the strikes on February 28, U.S. and Israeli military actions have resulted in at least 555 casualties across 131 cities in Iran, according to reports. Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps declared that new round of strikes is underway, unleashing missiles and drones toward targets in Beersheba in Israel. The IRGC insists its actions are defensive, framing the conflict as a response to external aggression rather than an unprovoked assault.