An Iranian strike on the U.S. Embassy in Saudi Arabia was worse than previously disclosed, a new report alleges. A pair of drone strikes on the embassy in Riyadh’s gated Diplomatic Quarter penetrated its walls and started a fire that it took half a day to put out, current and former U.S. officials told The Wall Street Journal. One source said parts of the embassy were not recoverable due to the damage. Saudi officials, meanwhile, had reported only minor damage. In fact, according to unnamed officials, the March 3 attack would have been a “mass-casualty event” if it had occurred during working hours instead of around 1:30 a.m. The first strike reportedly blew a hole in the compound that was followed by a second drone, which flew into the opening before detonating. The details leaked by officials paint a far different picture from what was publicly disclosed. Instead of an hours-long blaze that threatened to kill or injure Americans, Saudi officials described only a limited fire. There was no mention that three separate floors were damaged by the strike, reports the Journal.
Published: April 4, 2026 5:41 pm
Source: The Daily Beast — Read original