{"id":326346,"date":"2026-03-03T08:28:08","date_gmt":"2026-03-03T08:28:08","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/ie\/326346\/"},"modified":"2026-03-03T08:28:08","modified_gmt":"2026-03-03T08:28:08","slug":"us-embassy-in-riyadh-hit-by-drones-trump-predicts-attacks-on-iran-could-last-four-to-five-weeks-the-irish-times","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/ie\/326346\/","title":{"rendered":"US embassy in Riyadh hit by drones; Trump predicts attacks on Iran could last \u2018four to five weeks\u2019 \u2013 The Irish Times"},"content":{"rendered":"

Main pointsIsrael launched new strikes on Tehran and Beirut on Tuesday morning.US Secretary of State Marco Rubio says \u201cthe hardest hits\u201d on Iran are \u201cyet to come\u201d. Iran\u2019s<\/a> Revolutionary Guards commander says the strait of Hormuz \u2013 the world\u2019s most critical oil route \u2013 is closed.The US embassy in Riyadh has reportedly been hit by drones. Donald Trump <\/a>says \u2018Operation Epic Fury\u2019 could last \u201cfour to five weeks\u201d.Air France flights to and from \u200bTel Aviv, Beirut, Dubai, and \u200bRiyadh cancelled until ThursdayTrump said the attacks on Iran were because it \u201crefused to cease their pursuit of nuclear weapons\u201d.At least 52 people were killed and more than 150 injured<\/a> by Israeli strikes in Lebanon after retaliatory Hizbullah attacks. Key reads<\/p>\n

Jack White – 10 minutes ago<\/p>\n

France \u200cplans to \u200bsend anti-missile and anti-drone \u200bsystems \u2060to Cyprus \u200cafter \u200ca \u200bBritish sovereign \u2060base \u200bon \u200bthe \u200cisland was \u200battacked by \u2060drones, \u2060the semi-official \u200bCyprus News Agency (CNA) \u200csaid on \u2060Tuesday. <\/p>\n

An Iranian-made drone hit a British military airbase in Cyprus on Sunday, causing a small amount of damage, but no injuries. Two further unmanned drones were intercepted heading towards the Mediterranean island on Monday.<\/p>\n

Jack White – 16 minutes ago<\/p>\n

The Israeli military deployed \u200cadditional forces to southern \u200bLebanon overnight, to take up what a \u200bmilitary spokesperson on \u2060Tuesday described as defensive positions \u200cto \u200cprotect \u200bIsraeli civilians and \u2060strategic sites \u200bfrom any \u200bpotential Hizbullah attack.<\/p>\n

\u201cWe\u2019re \u200conly at the \u200bborderline area in \u2060a \u2060defensive \u200bmanner to prevent attacks against civilians and very strategic important points,\u201d Lieutenant Colonel \u200cNadav \u2060Shoshani said in an online briefing with \u200creporters.<\/p>\n

However, a Lebanese \u200cofficial \u200btold \u2060Reuters that Israeli \u200ctroops were carrying out \u200bincursions along some parts \u200bof \u2060the Lebanese border.<\/p>\n

Witnesses \u200bsaid \u200cthe Lebanese \u200barmy had \u2060pulled \u2060out \u200bof at least seven forward operating \u200cpositions along \u2060the border. – Reuters<\/p>\n

Jack White – 23 minutes ago<\/p>\n

The US embassy in Jerusalem has said it is not in a position to evacuate or directly assist Americans in departing Israel \u201cat this time\u201d.<\/p>\n

\u201cAs a result of the current security situation throughout the region,\u201d it has directed all employees and their family members to continue to shelter in place until further notice.<\/p>\n

It noted that the Israeli ministry of tourism has begun operating shuttles to the Taba border crossing, though it said it could not make any recommendation for or against the shuttle.<\/p>\n

\u201cIf you choose to avail yourself of this option to depart, the US government cannot guarantee your safety. The information is provided as a courtesy to those wishing to leave Israel,\u201d it said.<\/p>\n

US ambassador to Israel, Mike Huckabee, said the embassy is receiving \u201ca lot of requests\u201d from US citizens in Israel regarding evacuation.<\/p>\n

Noting the \u201cvery limited options\u201d in a post on X, he said the best option is to use the shuttle bus to the Taba crossing.<\/p>\n

Jack White – 27 minutes ago<\/p>\n

Explainer: Why have the US and Israel attacked Iran?Why have the US and Israel attacked Iran? Our Europe Correspondent, Naomi O’Leary, takes us through the latest. Video: Naomi O’Leary <\/p>\n

Jack White – 35 minutes ago<\/p>\n

US relationship with UK \u2018not what it was\u2019, Trump says<\/p>\n

US president Donald Trump said \u200cit was \u201csad to see\u201d the relationship with Britain was \u201cnot what it was\u201d after UK prime minister \u200cKeir Starmer initially held off giving military support to the strikes against Iran.<\/p>\n

Trump said the likes of France had been more supportive and said he had never expected to see the once \u201cmost solid of all\u201d relationships change in this way.<\/p>\n

\u201cIt\u2019s very sad to see that the relationship is obviously not what it was,\u201d Trump told the Sun newspaper on Tuesday, his second interview to a British newspaper in as many days where he criticised \u200cthe \u200cBritish leader.<\/p>\n

Starmer said late on Sunday that he would allow the US to use British military bases for defensive strikes after they were not used in the initial attack on Iran.<\/p>\n

Trump said the US did not need Britain to wage war in \u200cthe Middle East but added: \u201cIt\u2019s not going to matter, but (Starmer) should have helped … he should have.<\/p>\n

\u201cI mean, France has been great. They\u2019ve all been great. The UK has been much different from others.\u201d \u2013 Reuters<\/p>\n

Jack White – 41 minutes ago<\/p>\n

The US embassy in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia\u2019s capital, was attacked by two drones, according to an initial assessment by the country\u2019s ministry of defence.<\/p>\n

The attack resulted in a \u201climited fire and minor material damage to the building\u201d, it said.<\/p>\n

Riyadh, which has an estimated population of about eight million, is about 1,300km from Tehran.<\/p>\n

\"\"<\/p>\n

Air \u200cFrance has cancelled its \u200cflights to and from \u200bTel Aviv, Beirut, Dubai, and \u200bRiyadh until Thursday, \u2060the airline said \u200cin \u200ca \u200bstatement on Tuesday.<\/p>\n

Citing \u2060security \u200brisks due \u200bto the \u200congoing conflict in the \u200bMiddle East, it said \u2060the \u2060safety \u200bof its customers and crew was a top priority \u200cand that \u2060it will assess the situation \u200cbefore resuming flights. \u2013 Reuters<\/p>\n

The US Embassy in Kuwait has closed until further notice while the US state department said it has ordered non-emergency US government employees and families members of government personnel to leave the country.<\/p>\n

In an updated travel advisory for Kuwait the US state department said the government \u201ccannot offer emergency services to US citizens in Kuwait due to the safety risks\u201d.<\/p>\n

The US embassy in Riyadh confirmed it had come under attack and urged Americans to avoid the building, posting on X: \u201cAvoid the Embassy until further notice due to an attack on the facility.\u201d<\/p>\n

It advised all US citizens to maintain a \u201cpersonal safety plan\u201d, saying: \u201cCrises can happen unexpectedly while travelling or living abroad.\u201d<\/p>\n

Drones strike US embassy in Riyadh<\/p>\n

Early on Tuesday, two drones, apparently from Iran, struck the US embassy in Riyadh, causing minor damage and starting a fire, Saudi Arabia\u2019s defence ministry said.<\/p>\n

The Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps said this morning its naval forces had destroyed the main command building and headquarters of a US \u200bairbase in Bahrain.<\/p>\n

The IRGC said in a statement that it had launched a large-scale drone and missile attack on the base in the Sheikh Isa area early in the morning, with 20 drones and three missiles striking their \u2060intended targets.<\/p>\n

US secretary of state Marco Rubio on Monday warned that \u201cthe hardest hits are yet to come from the \u200cUS military\u201d \u200bin the offensive against Iran. <\/p>\n

Netanyahu says US-Israel war on Iran \u2018not going to take years\u2019<\/p>\n

Israeli prime minister Binyamin Netanyahu \u200csaid he expected the war against Iran was \u201cnot going to take years\u201d, as the conflict widened with Israel attacking Iran-backed Hizbullah targets in Lebanon and Iran hitting Gulf states that host US bases.<\/p>\n

Netanyahu rejected the idea of the conflict lasting years, like previous wars in the region.<\/p>\n

As the war entered its fourth day on Tuesday, explosions shook buildings across Tel Aviv as air defences intercepted incoming Iranian missiles.<\/p>\n

Israel attacked the complex that houses Iran\u2019s state broadcaster IRIB in Tehran and targeted Hizbullah militants in towns across Lebanon.<\/p>\n

US orders \u2018non-emergency\u2019 staff to leave Bahrain, Jordan and Iraq<\/p>\n

The US state department said this morning it had ordered non-emergency personnel and their families to leave Bahrain and Jordan.<\/p>\n

The department said in a post on X that it had updated travel advisories for Bahrain and Jordan \u201cto reflect the ordered departure of non-emergency US government personnel and family members of government personnel\u201d.<\/p>\n

In an updated Iraq travel advisory, the department said it had on Monday \u201cordered non-emergency US government employees to leave Iraq due to security concerns\u201d, Agence France-Presse reports.<\/p>\n

\ud83d\udea8 SECRETARY RUBIO: The hardest hits are yet to come. The next phase will be even more punishing on Iran than it is right now. The world will be a safer place when we are done with Operation Epic Fury. pic.twitter.com\/AVQYtmUX21<\/a><\/p>\n

\u2014 Department of State (@StateDept) March 2, 2026<\/a> Conflicting US messages about how long attacks in Iran may last <\/p>\n

The US has sent conflicting messages about how long a war with Iran might last as Israel launched new air strikes, with the widening conflict reverberating across the Middle East and upending energy markets.<\/p>\n

US defence secretary Pete Hegseth rejected the idea of an \u201cendless\u201d war with Iran. But president Donald Trump later insisted there was no fixed timeline. Both refused to rule out putting American boots on the ground.<\/p>\n

\u201cWhatever the time is, it\u2019s okay \u2013 whatever it takes,\u201d Trump said. \u201cRight from the beginning, we projected four to five weeks. But we have capability to go far longer than that.\u201d<\/p>\n

Irish citizens in UAE could be bussed to Oman<\/p>\n

Irish authorities are considering bussing citizens stranded in the United Arab Emirates<\/a> (UAE) to Oman before flying them home if flights from Dubai and Abu Dhabi remain heavily restricted because of the Iran conflict.<\/p>\n

Senior officials and Ministers met in Dublin on Monday to discuss the escalating crisis in the region after a combined US-Israeli attack on Iran killed Iranian supreme leader Ali Khamenei and other senior regime figures.<\/p>\n

US and Israel continue assault on Iran<\/p>\n

Fears of a protracted and complex war deepened as missile strikes were exchanged by countries across the Gulf on Monday, pushing the Middle East into a new chapter of volatility.<\/p>\n

The immediate consequences were evident in reports of hundreds of lives lost and thousands displaced within the region, and the more privileged fretting over spiking fuel and energy prices in Europe and the West.<\/p>\n

At the White House in Washington on Monday, US president Donald Trump said the United States would continue attacking Iran for as long as it takes to leave it incapable of posing a threat, indicating that an expanding war in the Middle East could continue for weeks or more. Read Keith Duggan\u2019s full report here<\/a>. <\/p>\n