A suspected Iranian drone struck the Central Intelligence Agency’s station within the U.S. Embassy in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia, on Tuesday, according to multiple sources familiar with the matter. The attack, which involved at least two drones hitting the embassy compound, caused structural damage and prompted a shelter-in-place order for personnel, according to an internal State Department alert obtained by The Washington Post.
While U.S. And Saudi officials confirmed the drone strikes on the embassy, neither government initially disclosed that the CIA station had been directly impacted. The Post reported that the attack “collapsed” part of the embassy roof and “contaminated” interior areas with smoke. The extent of the damage remains unclear, and there have been no reports of injuries to CIA staff.
The attack comes after a series of retaliatory strikes between Iran and Israel, and following U.S. Military strikes on Iranian targets earlier in the week. Since Saturday, Iranian missiles and drones have reportedly hit targets in Kuwait, Qatar, the United Arab Emirates, and Israel, as well as other locations. The U.S. Military, through United States Central Command, has stated it has struck more than 1,250 targets in Iran.
According to Reuters, there was no immediate confirmation that the CIA station was specifically targeted. However, The Washington Post reported that one of the two drones directly hit the CIA facility. A similar report from the Jerusalem Post also indicated that one drone struck the CIA station.
Former CIA officers, speaking on condition of anonymity, suggested that such disruptions are manageable. One former officer who served in the Middle East told The Washington Post that “drawdowns are a part of the business,” and anticipated a cooperative response from Saudi authorities, stating, “The local liaison relationship is so tight I think the Saudis will roll out the red carpet” to accommodate personnel. The officer also noted the redundancy built into such operations.
The U.S. Embassy in Riyadh was also struck by drones on Tuesday, sparking a small fire, according to reports. A drone attack also targeted the U.S. Consulate in Dubai, resulting in a fire that was contained by local authorities.
Iran has a long history of viewing the CIA as a hostile actor, citing the agency’s involvement in the 1953 military coup that removed Iran’s elected prime minister. The current escalation follows U.S. And Israeli strikes on Iran early Saturday.
As of Wednesday, the U.S. Military assessed that Iran’s ability to launch retaliatory strikes against Israeli and American targets was “declining.” The State Department has not issued a public statement regarding the damage to the CIA station or the ongoing shelter-in-place order.
