The United States embassy in Riyadh came under drone attack on Tuesday as Iran widened its retaliatory strikes across the Middle East, marking a dangerous escalation in a regional war that has already claimed hundreds of lives and rattled global markets.
Four days after joint US and Israeli strikes reportedly killed Iran’s supreme leader, Iranian drones struck industrial and diplomatic targets across the Gulf.
In Saudi Arabia’s capital, smoke damage was visible on the walls and roof of the US embassy compound after two drones penetrated air defences and ignited a fire.
Saudi authorities said eight drones were intercepted in two cities, including Riyadh, but confirmed that two reached their intended target.
The attack came as the US State Department issued an urgent advisory, calling on Americans to “depart now” from countries and territories across the Middle East due to what it described as serious safety risks.
Explosions also rocked Tehran overnight, with fighter jets heard over the Iranian capital. Residents described a tense atmosphere, torn between fear and uncertainty. Some families were seen leaving with suitcases, seeking safety elsewhere.
“Every time we hear the noises, we get scared for just a second,” a 45-year-old lawyer said in a message to relatives abroad, reflecting the anxiety gripping the city.
US President Donald Trump warned that the conflict could last weeks or even months. Speaking at the White House, he said the United States had the capacity to sustain prolonged operations and refused to rule out deploying ground troops to Iran “if they were necessary.”
He later said Tehran would “find out soon” how Washington intended to respond to the Riyadh embassy strike.
According to Trump, the objectives of the US campaign include dismantling Iran’s missile systems, naval capabilities and nuclear programme, as well as curbing its support for armed groups across the region. Regime change, however, was not listed among the administration’s stated goals.
Meanwhile, Israel expanded its operations beyond Iran. Defence Minister Israel Katz announced that Israeli forces had been authorised to advance into additional strategic positions in southern Lebanon after Hezbollah launched missile strikes in support of Tehran. The Lebanese army redeployed troops in response to the intensifying bombardment.
In the Gulf, Iranian strikes targeted oil and gas infrastructure, including facilities in Saudi Arabia and the Omani port of Duqm.
In Fujairah, in the United Arab Emirates, debris from intercepted drones sparked a fire at an oil installation before authorities brought it under control.
The renewed instability sent benchmark Brent crude prices climbing as European markets opened, underscoring fears for global energy supplies.
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Adding to the volatility, a commander of Iran’s Revolutionary Guards warned that Tehran could disrupt maritime traffic through the Strait of Hormuz, a critical artery for global oil shipments, further heightening concerns about the war’s economic consequences.
US Secretary of State Marco Rubio presented a controversial account of how the conflict unfolded, saying Washington intervened pre-emptively after learning that Israel was preparing to strike Iran and assessing that Tehran would retaliate against American forces in the region.
The explanation drew scepticism from Democratic lawmakers, who questioned the justification for US involvement.
Casualty figures continue to mount. US Central Command confirmed that six American service members have been killed since the outbreak of hostilities.
Iranian media have reported hundreds of casualties inside Iran, though independent verification remains limited. The US-based Human Rights Activists News Agency said 101 people were killed or wounded inside Iran on the third day of the war, including dozens of civilians.
Across the region, ordinary people bear the brunt of the conflict — from embassy staff assessing damage in Riyadh to families in Tehran weighing whether to flee.
With diplomatic channels strained and military operations intensifying, the Middle East stands at one of its most precarious moments in recent years, as fears grow that the war could spiral further beyond its current front lines.