A drone attack on the United States embassy in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia, in March caused more extensive damage than initially reported, according to a Wall Street Journal report. While the Saudi Defense Ministry initially stated the incident resulted in a limited fire and minor damage, current and former American officials reported significantly greater damage. The attack is part of a series of incidents targeting US outposts in the region since February.
Details of the Attack
Two Iranian drones struck the American embassy compound in Riyadh. The first drone reportedly evaded Saudi air defenses and crashed within the compound. Approximately one minute later, a second drone entered through the breach created by the first and subsequently detonated.
The strikes impacted a secure area of the embassy. Three floors were severely damaged and reportedly rendered unrecoverable.
Officials indicated that if the attack had occurred during working hours, it could have resulted in a mass-casualty event.
Sources familiar with the situation reported that the Central Intelligence Agency (CIA) station was among the areas affected. The fire following the incident reportedly lasted half a day. Additionally, one of the drones was believed to have targeted the residence of the highest-ranking US diplomat, located near the embassy.
Conflicting Reports on Damage
The Saudi Defense Ministry initially described the incident as causing a "limited fire and minor damage." However, a Wall Street Journal report, citing current and former American officials, contradicted this assessment, stating that the damage was significantly more extensive.
Regional Context and Commentary
In the hours following the incident, the Saudi Ministry of Defense announced the interception and destruction of eight drones near Riyadh and Al-Kharj.
Bernard Hudson, a former CIA counterterrorism chief, commented on a "complete blackout" of public information regarding the actual damage to US embassies and bases, suggesting this contributes to suspicions of more significant impacts.
Hudson also highlighted Iran's capability to produce an indigenous weapon, deploy it hundreds of miles, and strike an embassy.
This incident is not isolated, occurring within a broader pattern of events targeting US outposts since February:
- In March, Iranian missiles struck the US military base at Prince Sultan in Saudi Arabia, damaging refueling aircraft and injuring at least 10 US servicemen.
- In February, a US base in Bahrain was also targeted, though a missile landed in an unoccupied area.