A loud blast was heard and flames seen at the embassy early on Tuesday morning, reports said. Black smoke was seen rising over Riyadh\u2019s diplomatic quarter, which houses foreign missions.<\/p>\n
Reuters quoted two people as saying there were no reported injuries, given the building was empty in the early morning hours.<\/p>\n
Share<\/a><\/p>\n Updated at\u00a021.41 EST<\/p>\n Key events<\/p>\n <\/p>\n 28m ago<\/p>\n Australia says Iranian drones hit airbase in UAE<\/p>\n <\/a><\/p>\n 42m ago<\/p>\n Israel orders new evacuations in Lebanon<\/p>\n <\/a><\/p>\n 2h ago<\/p>\n Netanyahu: this won’t be an ‘endless war’<\/p>\n <\/a><\/p>\n 2h ago<\/p>\n Oil prices keep rising amid growing fears of supply disruptions<\/p>\n <\/a><\/p>\n 3h ago<\/p>\n Netanyahu says Iran’s nuclear program made it vital to strike now<\/p>\n <\/a><\/p>\n 3h ago<\/p>\n Rubio says US strikes on Iran triggered by Israel\u2019s plan to attack<\/p>\n <\/a><\/p>\n 3h ago<\/p>\n Saudis confirm US embassy in Riyadh hit by two drones, sparking fire<\/p>\n <\/a><\/p>\n 4h ago<\/p>\n Fire at US embassy in Riyadh after two drone hits, say Saudis<\/p>\n <\/a><\/p>\n 4h ago<\/p>\n Fire after blast at US embassy in Riyadh \u2013 report<\/p>\n <\/a><\/p>\n 5h ago<\/p>\n Confusion over status of vital Strait of Hormuz<\/p>\n <\/a><\/p>\n 5h ago<\/p>\n Lebanon bans Hezbollah military actions<\/p>\n <\/a><\/p>\n 6h ago<\/p>\n The day so far<\/p>\n <\/a><\/p>\n 6h ago<\/p>\n Israel working to intercept new missiles launched from Iran<\/p>\n <\/a><\/p>\n 6h ago<\/p>\n Trump claims Iran ‘would have had nuclear bomb three years ago\u2019<\/p>\n <\/a><\/p>\n 7h ago<\/p>\n US urges citizens to immediately depart over a dozen Middle Eastern countries<\/p>\n <\/a><\/p>\n 7h ago<\/p>\n Israeli military says it has launched new waves of strikes on Tehran<\/p>\n <\/a><\/p>\n 7h ago<\/p>\n Marco Rubio says US would not ‘deliberately’ target a school<\/p>\n <\/a><\/p>\n 8h ago<\/p>\n US attacked Iran ‘pre-emptively’ after learning Israel was going to launch strikes – Rubio<\/p>\n <\/a><\/p>\n 8h ago<\/p>\n Six US service members killed in Iran, military says<\/p>\n <\/a><\/p>\n 9h ago<\/p>\n Strait of Hormuz closed, Iran’s Revolutionary Guards says<\/p>\n <\/a><\/p>\n 9h ago<\/p>\n ‘Killing terrorists is good for America’: White House says 49 senior Iranian leaders killed in strikes<\/p>\n <\/a><\/p>\n 9h ago<\/p>\n US military claims it has destroyed all Iranian ships in Gulf of Oman<\/p>\n <\/a><\/p>\n 9h ago<\/p>\n Israel’s UN envoy says Iran operation will last ‘as long as it takes’<\/p>\n <\/a><\/p>\n 10h ago<\/p>\n UK ‘doesn’t believe in regime change from the skies’, says Starmer<\/p>\n <\/a><\/p>\n 10h ago<\/p>\n The day so far<\/p>\n <\/a><\/p>\n 10h ago<\/p>\n Israeli strikes kill over 50 in Lebanon<\/p>\n <\/a><\/p>\n 12h ago<\/p>\n Trump says US’s mission in Iran ‘substantially ahead’ and could last 4-5 weeks<\/p>\n <\/a><\/p>\n 12h ago<\/p>\n US continues to carry out ‘large-scale operations’ in Iran, Trump says<\/p>\n <\/a><\/p>\n 12h ago<\/p>\n Trump doesn’t rule out possibility of US boots on ground in Iran<\/p>\n <\/a><\/p>\n 13h ago<\/p>\n Trump on Iran strikes: ‘The big wave hasn\u2019t even happened’<\/p>\n <\/a><\/p>\n 14h ago<\/p>\n Iran Revolutionary Guards say targeted 500 US, Israeli sites<\/p>\n <\/a><\/p>\n 14h ago<\/p>\n IDF says it launched a ‘broad wave’ of attacks ‘in the heart of Tehran’<\/p>\n <\/a><\/p>\n 16h ago<\/p>\n Pentagon to brief media this morning on Trump’s Iran strikes<\/p>\n <\/a><\/p>\n 16h ago<\/p>\n Fourth US service member ‘killed in action’ – Centcom<\/p>\n <\/a><\/p>\n 16h ago<\/p>\n QatarEnergy halts liquefied natural gas production after attacks<\/p>\n <\/a><\/p>\n 16h ago<\/p>\n What we know so far…<\/p>\n <\/a><\/p>\n 17h ago<\/p>\n Two drones heading towards RAF Akrotiri in Cyprus intercepted, spokesperson says<\/p>\n <\/a><\/p>\n 17h ago<\/p>\n US says three jets ‘went down’ over Kuwait ‘due to an apparent friendly fire incident’<\/p>\n <\/a><\/p>\n 18h ago<\/p>\n Iran’s ‘reckless’ attacks threaten regional stability, US and allied Gulf states say<\/p>\n <\/a><\/p>\n 18h ago<\/p>\n Saudi Arabia halts some operations at Ras Tanura refinery after reported attack<\/p>\n <\/a><\/p>\n 19h ago<\/p>\n Mass evacuation of cities across Middle East may be necessary if nuclear power stations attacked, UN nuclear chief says<\/p>\n <\/a><\/p>\n 20h ago<\/p>\n IDF says ‘all options on table’ in response to question about possible ground invasion of Lebanon<\/p>\n <\/a><\/p>\n 20h ago<\/p>\n At least 555 people have been killed in Iran by US-Israeli attacks, Iranian Red Crescent Society says<\/p>\n <\/a><\/p>\n 20h ago<\/p>\n Saudi oil refinery reportedly halts operations after drone attack<\/p>\n <\/a><\/p>\n 21h ago<\/p>\n Kuwait says ‘several’ US warplanes have crashed in the country, with all the crew surviving<\/p>\n <\/a><\/p>\n 22h ago<\/p>\n Summary<\/p>\n <\/a><\/p>\n 22h ago<\/p>\n Israeli military says fighting Hezbollah could take ‘many’ more days<\/p>\n <\/a><\/p>\n 22h ago<\/p>\n US embassy in Kuwait warns of attack threat and urges people to take cover<\/p>\n <\/a><\/p>\n 23h ago<\/p>\n Israeli strikes in Lebanon kill 31 \u2013 report<\/p>\n <\/a><\/p>\n 23h ago<\/p>\n Iran launches another attack wave on Israel and Gulf cities<\/p>\n <\/a><\/p>\n 24h ago<\/p>\n Israeli general says strikes on Lebanon will intensify<\/p>\n <\/a><\/p>\n 1d ago<\/p>\n Iran’s security chief says it ‘won’t negotiate’ with US<\/p>\n <\/a><\/p>\n 1d ago<\/p>\n At least 10 killed in Israeli strikes on Beirut \u2013 report<\/p>\n <\/a><\/p>\n 1d ago<\/p>\n Streams of people flee Beirut amid airstrikes and evacuation orders<\/p>\n <\/a><\/p>\n 1d ago<\/p>\n UK responding to suspected drone strike at Cyprus base, says MoD<\/p>\n <\/a><\/p>\n 1d ago<\/p>\n Opening summary<\/p>\n <\/a>Show key events only<\/p>\n Please turn on JavaScript to use this feature<\/p>\n Jews across Israel have gathered in bomb shelters to mark the holiday of Purim as a precaution against possible Iranian missile attacks.<\/p>\n In Tel Aviv, people of all ages wearing sequinned suits, bunny ears, pirate costumes and peacock feathers streamed into a mall\u2019s underground parking lot, which also functions as a bomb shelter, the AP reports.<\/p>\n They were there for the reading from the Book of Esther followed by a live band with dancing.<\/p>\n The celebrations are taking place as the Israeli-US war with Iran expands across the Middle East.<\/p>\n Israelis mark Purim in the underground parking lot functioning as a bomb shelter in Tel Aviv on Monday. Photograph: Ronen Zvulun\/ReutersIsraelis at the event including a reading from the biblical Book of Esther. Photograph: Ronen Zvulun\/ReutersShare<\/a>Australia says Iranian drones hit airbase in UAE<\/p>\n Iranian drones struck an Australian military facility in the United Arab Emirates but there were no injuries, Australia\u2019s defence minister has said.<\/p>\n Richard Marles said the drones struck the Al Minhad airbase \u2013 a logistics hub for Australia\u2019s Middle East operations near Dubai \u2013 on the first night of the Iran war.<\/p>\n \u201cWe have a number of Australians who operate from a headquarters that we\u2019ve had at Al Minhad now for many, many years,\u201d Marles told Australia\u2019s Seven Network television on Tuesday, cited by the Associated Press.<\/p>\n He said:<\/p>\n double quotation markThey are all accounted for, they are all safe. We\u2019ve got north of 100 serving personnel actually across the Middle East in a range of countries, but most are in the UAE and that base is very important for us.<\/p>\n Multiple explosions have been heard near Al Minhad during the war, as well as many aerial interceptions.<\/p>\n Royal Australian Air Force aircraft on the tarmac at Al Minhad airbase near Dubai. Photograph: Leading Seaman Paul Berry\/Australian department of defenceShare<\/a><\/p>\n Updated at\u00a023.24 EST<\/p>\n Israel orders new evacuations in Lebanon<\/p>\n The Israeli military has issued new evacuation orders for dozens of locations in Lebanon on Tuesday, including a warning for residents in two southern Beirut neighbourhoods to stay away from several buildings ahead of imminent military action, AFP is reporting<\/p>\n \u201cUrgent warning to the residents of Lebanon, specifically in the villages which names are shown. For your safety you must evacuate your homes immediately,\u201d said a statement by the military\u2019s Arabic-language spokesperson, Avichay Adraee, on Telegram, which listed 50 locations.<\/p>\n \u201cYou are located near Hezbollah facilities and interests, against which the IDF will operate in the near future,\u201d he told the residents of southern Beirut neighbourhoods Ghobeiry and Haret Hreik in another evacuation warning.<\/p>\n Displaced residents from the southern suburbs sit along Corniche Al Manara in Beirut, Lebanon, on Monday, after fleeing their homes following Israeli strikes. Photograph: Wael Hamzeh\/EPAShare<\/a><\/p>\n Updated at\u00a023.12 EST<\/p>\n Tokyo has told Japanese shipowners to have their ships stay away from the Persian Gulf to ensure the safety of their crew members.<\/p>\n Chief cabinet secretary Minoru Kihara said on Tuesday that the transport ministry had notified the Japanese Shipowners\u2019 Association to do the utmost to protect crews onboard the ships in the region.<\/p>\n Kihara said those already in the Gulf were urged to lie at anchor where it was safe to do so, the Associated Press reports.<\/p>\n On Monday, Japanese foreign minister Toshimitsu Motegi met with Iran\u2019s ambassador to Japan, Peiman Seadat, and conveyed Japan\u2019s consistent stance that Iran<\/a> must stop attacks on neighboring countries and other actions destabilising the region.<\/p>\n Motegi also noted the importance of ensuring safety in the Strait of Hormuz<\/a>, which is key to Japan\u2019s energy security.<\/p>\n Share<\/a><\/p>\n Donald Trump has suggested the US will retaliate \u201csoon\u201d after its embassy in the Saudi capital of Riyadh was hit by two suspected Iranian drones<\/a>.<\/p>\n He said \u201cyou\u2019ll find out soon\u201d how the US would respond, without providing details, while talking with the NewsNation network on Monday.<\/p>\n Trump earlier indicated that US strikes on Iran<\/a> could go much longer than originally predicted, as his administration sought to counter criticism about conflicting messages on the war\u2019s goals.<\/p>\n In his first public comments since launching the military operation on Saturday, the US president laid out what he said were four key objectives for hitting Iran. Agence France-Presse quoted him as saying:<\/p>\n double quotation markFirst, we\u2019re destroying Iran\u2019s missile capabilities … Second, we\u2019re annihilating their navy … Third, we\u2019re ensuring that the world\u2019s number-one sponsor of terror can never obtain a nuclear weapon.<\/p>\n Stopping Iran from arming and directing proxy militant groups was reported as being the fourth aim.<\/p>\n Share<\/a><\/p>\n Updated at\u00a022.52 EST<\/p>\n Israel\u2019s military claims it has \u201cstruck and dismantled\u201d the headquarters of Iran\u2019s state radio and television broadcaster, the Islamic Republic of Iran Broadcasting (Irib), reportedly saying it had \u201ccalled for the destruction of the state of Israel<\/a> and for the use of nuclear weapons\u201d.<\/p>\n The Irib was quoted as saying on Telegram there had been explosions near its headquarters in Tehran but that there was no disruption to its operations.<\/p>\n Share<\/a><\/p>\n Updated at\u00a022.51 EST<\/p>\n The US will take action to mitigate rising energy prices due to a spike in the price of oil caused by the Iran<\/a> conflict, secretary of state Marco Rubio has said.<\/p>\n Speaking to reporters at Capitol Hill, Rubio said treasury secretary Scott Bessent and energy secretary Chris Wright would announce the plans on Tuesday.<\/p>\n \u201cStarting tomorrow, you will see us rolling out those phases to try to mitigate against that … We anticipated this could be an issue,\u201d Rubio said.<\/p>\n President Donald Trump is scheduled to meet with Bessent and Wright at 2pm (1900 GMT) on Tuesday, according to his itinerary released by the White House.<\/p>\n Oil and gas prices surged on Monday following Israeli and US strikes on Iran and retaliation by Tehran that forced shutdowns of oil and gas facilities across the region and disrupted shipping in the crucial Strait of Hormuz.<\/p>\n Drivers wait in lines to pump gasoline into their vehicles at a gas station in the Marina Del Rey community of Los Angeles. Photograph: Patrick T Fallon\/AFP\/Getty ImagesShare<\/a><\/p>\n Updated at\u00a022.23 EST<\/p>\n Saudi Arabia\u2019s defence ministry is being quoted as saying the country has intercepted and destroyed eight drones near Riyadh and Al-Kharj.<\/p>\n Earlier the ministry confirmed<\/a> that the US embassy in Riyadh was hit by two drones, according to initial estimates, and caused a limited fire and minor material damage to the building.<\/p>\n There were no reported injuries, according to news reports.<\/p>\n Share<\/a><\/p>\n Updated at\u00a021.57 EST<\/p>\n Netanyahu: this won’t be an ‘endless war’<\/p>\n Benjamin Netanyahu has said the Middle East conflict triggered by US and Israeli strikes on Iran won\u2019t be \u201can endless war\u201d but could \u201ctake some time\u201d.<\/p>\n The Israeli prime minister was reported as telling Fox News on Monday that the campaign would be \u201ca quick and decisive action\u201d, later adding: \u201cIt may take some time, but it\u2019s not going to take years.\u201d<\/p>\n Share<\/a><\/p>\n Updated at\u00a022.26 EST<\/p>\n Oil prices keep rising amid growing fears of supply disruptions<\/p>\n Oil prices have lifted for a third day on Tuesday as the widening Middle East conflict and threats to shipping<\/a> through the Strait of Hormuz heightened fears of supply disruptions from the key producing region.<\/p>\n Brent crude futures were at $78.83 a barrel, up $1.10, or 1.4%, by 0107 GMT. On Monday, the contract surged to as high as $82.37, its highest since January 2025, though it pared those gains to settle 6.7% higher, Reuters reports.<\/p>\n US West Texas Intermediate crude jumped 74 cents, or 1%, to $71.97 a barrel. In the previous session, the contract initially climbed to its highest since June 2025 before sliding back to still settle up 6.3%.<\/p>\n \u201cWith no quick de-escalation in sight, the Strait of Hormuz effectively closed and Iran<\/a> showing a willingness to target energy infrastructure in the region, upside risks remain and they grow the longer the conflict drags on,\u201d an IG market analyst, Tony Sycamore, said in a note.<\/p>\n Share<\/a><\/p>\n Updated at\u00a021.52 EST<\/p>\n Travellers stranded by the widening war in the Middle East began departing the United Arab Emirates<\/a> aboard a small number of evacuation flights on Monday, as mentioned earlier<\/a>, while governments around the world work to extract their citizens from the region.<\/p>\n Airlines Etihad Airways and Emirates, based in Abu Dhabi and Dubai, and budget carrier FlyDubai said they would operate limited flights in the wake of the chaos and damage<\/a> sparked by Iranian missiles and drones after US-Israeli attacks.<\/p>\n A passenger (right) of the first charter flight carrying 127 Italians stranded in Oman or transiting from the UAE to Oman is welcomed after arriving at Fiumicino airport in Rome. Photograph: Redazione Telenews\/Telenews\/EPA<\/p>\n Since Saturday at least 11,000 flights into, out of and within the Middle East have been cancelled, affecting more than 1 million passengers, according to aviation analytics firm Cirium.<\/p>\n The travel chaos looks set to continue, with Donald Trump saying<\/a> on Monday that the conflict had been projected to last four to five weeks but that it could go on longer.<\/p>\n Late on Monday the US state department called on Americans to immediately depart more than a dozen countries in the Middle East, including Saudi Arabia and the UAE amid the spiralling conflict.<\/p>\n The full story is here:<\/p>\n Share<\/a><\/p>\n Updated at\u00a021.33 EST<\/p>\n Netanyahu says Iran’s nuclear program made it vital to strike now<\/p>\n Israeli prime minister Benjamin Netanyahu has said Iran was building new nuclear weapon sites that would have been impossible to attack within months, creating an urgent need to strike the country.<\/p>\n \u201cThey started building new sites, new places, underground bunkers, that would make their ballistic missile program and their atomic bomb program immune within months,\u201d Netanyahu told Fox News<\/a> on Monday.<\/p>\n double quotation markIf no action was taken now, no action could be taken in the future. And then they could target America, they could blackmail America, they could threaten us, and threaten everyone in between. So action had to be taken.<\/p>\n Iran\u2019s nuclear programme is among the reasons Israel and the US have given for the attacks, alleging Iran<\/a> was getting too close to being able to eventually make a nuclear bomb.<\/p>\n However, what remains of Iran\u2019s atomic facilities after the two militaries attacked them in June<\/a> appears to have been largely spared in this campaign so far.<\/p>\n \u201cWe have no indication that any of the nuclear installations \u2026 have been damaged or hit,\u201d the International Atomic Energy Agency chief, Rafael Grossi, said on Monday.<\/p>\n Share<\/a><\/p>\n Updated at\u00a021.38 EST<\/p>\n Rubio says US strikes on Iran triggered by Israel\u2019s plan to attack Israel\u2019s determination to attack Iran and the certainty that US troops would be targeted in response forced the Trump administration to take pre-emptive strikes, secretary of state Marco Rubio<\/a> has said, in a new explanation for Washington\u2019s surprise entry into the conflict.<\/p>\n The rationale drew divided reviews from top members of Congress, who on Monday evening received the first briefing by the Trump administration since it ordered the air campaign to begin over the weekend.<\/p>\n Rubio, CIA director John Ratcliffe and joint chiefs of staff chair Dan Caine spoke to the lawmakers behind closed doors in the Capitol ahead of a vote expected later this week in the House of Representatives on a war powers resolution that presents an unlikely opportunity to force Donald Trump to end hostilities against Iran<\/a>.<\/p>\n Marco Rubio speaks to the press after the classified briefing on Monday. Photograph: Will Oliver\/EPA<\/p>\n Rubio told reporters at the Capitol:<\/p>\n double quotation markIt was abundantly clear that if Iran came under attack by anyone \u2013 the United States or Israel or anyone \u2013 they were going to respond, and respond against the United States.<\/p>\n We knew that there was going to be an Israeli action. We knew that that would precipitate an attack against American forces, and we knew that if we didn\u2019t pre-emptively go after them before they launched those attacks, we would suffer higher casualties.<\/p>\n The full story is here:<\/p>\n Share<\/a><\/p>\n Updated at\u00a021.39 EST<\/p>\n Saudis confirm US embassy in Riyadh hit by two drones, sparking fire<\/p>\n Saudi Arabia\u2019s defence ministry has confirmed<\/a> on social media that the US embassy in Riyadh was hit by two drones, according to initial estimates, and caused a limited fire and minor material damage to the building.<\/p>\n A loud blast was heard and flames seen at the embassy early on Tuesday morning, reports said. Black smoke was seen rising over Riyadh\u2019s diplomatic quarter, which houses foreign missions.<\/p>\n Reuters quoted two people as saying there were no reported injuries, given the building was empty in the early morning hours.<\/p>\n Share<\/a><\/p>\n Updated at\u00a021.41 EST<\/p>\n Israeli prime minister Benjamin Netanyahu has reportedly claimed Iran\u2019s nuclear program would have been beyond attack in months.<\/p>\n More on this soon.<\/p>\n Share<\/a><\/p>\n Amid the Middle East upheaval, holidaymakers on the first flights out of Abu Dhabi since Saturday have described petrifying experiences.<\/p>\n Thousands of flights have been cancelled across the region, leaving hundreds of thousands of passengers stranded.<\/p>\n A small number of flights have found their way out of the United Arab Emirates<\/a>, including one that landed at London\u2019s Heathrow airport on Monday evening, Isaaq Tomkins<\/a> reports.<\/p>\n As passengers emerged they described their fear as missiles flew overhead.<\/p>\n \u201cWe could hear the explosions. We could sometimes feel them \u2026 and then [there was] black ash landing in the breakfast,\u201d said Pen Harrison, who was on a cycling tour in Sri Lanka and had been on a stopover in Abu Dhabi.<\/p>\n Sahib Matharu, a 31-year-old from London who was also on a stopover through Abu Dhabi, said:<\/p>\n double quotation markWe were on edge the whole time. It was surreal.<\/p>\n Every passenger on the flight who spoke to the Guardian reported seeing missile interceptions from their hotel.<\/p>\n See the full story here:<\/p>\n Travellers checking a departure board displaying cancelled flights to Middle East countries at Heathrow airport on Monday. Photograph: Isabel Infantes\/ReutersShare<\/a><\/p>\n Updated at\u00a020.42 EST<\/p>\n The US embassy in Riyadh has issued a security alert advising American citizens to \u201cshelter in place immediately\u201d.<\/p>\n The embassy\u2019s post on X<\/a> said:<\/p>\n double quotation markThe US Mission to Saudi Arabia has issued a shelter in place notification for Jeddah, Riyadh and Dhahran and are limiting non-essential travel to any military installations in the region \u2013 we recommend American citizens in the Kingdom to shelter in place immediately.<\/p>\n The US Mission to Saudi Arabia continues to monitor the regional situation.<\/p>\n The alert came as a Saudi defence ministry spokesperson was quoted as saying an attack by two drones on the embassy had caused a fire.<\/p>\n Fox News is reporting that the embassy was empty at the time of the strike and there were no injuries.<\/p>\n![\"Chris](\"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/03\/1772513468_668_Chris_Stein.png\")
Chris Stein<\/p>\n