A spokesperson for the Saudi Ministry of Defense said on social media on March 2 that the U.S. Embassy in Riyadh had been attacked by two drones. The attack resulted “in a limited fire and minor material damage to the building,” the spokesperson said.

The U.S. Mission in Saudi Arabia issued a shelter-in-place notification for Jeddah, Riyadh, and Dhahran, and limited nonessential travel to any military installations in the region following the blasts. It recommended that Americans in Saudi Arabia avoid the U.S. Embassy until further notice.

It is unknown whether there were any casualties in the attack.

The attack takes place amid joint U.S.–Israeli military operations targeting Iran that have killed several top leaders. Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei and other military officials were the first targets killed as the operation began on Feb. 28. Iran responded with missile and drone assaults on Israel and U.S. assets in the Gulf, and Americans have since been urged to leave the region over “serious safety risks.”

The U.S. Mission to the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia issued a security alert on March 3 local time, including shelter-in-place measures for U.S. personnel in Jeddah, Riyadh, and Dhahran.

The alert limited nonessential travel to military installations and advised American citizens in Saudi Arabia to avoid the embassy until further notice.

“The U.S. Mission continues to monitor the regional situation,” a statement read.

U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio said in a video on X on March 2 from Washington, “To all American citizens in the Middle East: your safety and security is our number one priority … you can reach the Department of State 24 hours a day, 7 days a week, at the following phone number: +1-202-501-4444.”

He also said the department has activated a 24/7 task force, “surging personnel and resources necessary to help provide American citizens with up-to-the-minute safety and security information.” To receive these updates, Rubio urged citizens to register for STEP (Smart Traveler Enrollment Program) alerts at step.state.gov.

The governments of the United States, Bahrain, Jordan, Kuwait, Qatar, Saudi Arabia, and the United Arab Emirates condemned the broader attacks by Iran in the region.

“These unjustified strikes targeted sovereign territory, endangered civilian populations, and damaged civilian infrastructure,” the nations said in a joint statement, calling Iran’s actions a dangerous escalation.

“The targeting of civilians and of countries not engaged in hostilities is reckless and destabilizing behavior.”

The countries reaffirmed their right to self-defense.

“We remain committed to regional security and commend the effective air and missile defense cooperation that has prevented far greater loss of life and destruction,” the statement said.

European nations, including Italy and Germany, are pulling their citizens out of the Middle East amid the conflict, including the vulnerable and children. The United Kingdom is also exploring evacuating its citizens in the region.

France, Germany, and the UK condemned Iran’s “indiscriminate and disproportionate” missile attacks against other Middle Eastern nations in a March 1 joint statement.