U.S. embassy in Riyadh hit by two drones, Saudi ministry says; six U.S. service members killed

The U.S. Embassy in Riyadh was struck by two drones, the Saudi Ministry of Defense said, causing "limited fire and minor material damage to the building" and prompting an embassy security alert advising Americans in Riyadh, Jeddah and Dhahran to "shelter in place immediately." The attack took place amid a broader U.S.-Israeli campaign against Iran that began with strikes on Iranian military and government sites.

U.S. and Israeli forces launched the initial strikes on Iran on Saturday, February 28, and President Donald Trump called the operation "our last, best chance to strike," saying the campaign could run "four to five weeks" but had the capability to go "far longer than that." Trump also said destroying Iran's missile capabilities was a top objective. The U.S. military has confirmed it is continuing large-scale operations inside Iran, and officials have said additional forces are moving to the region.

The conflict has produced immediate casualties and chaotic battlefield incidents. Six U.S. service members have been confirmed killed in action, multiple outlets reported. Three U.S. F-15 jets were lost over Kuwait in what U.S. officials described as a friendly fire incident; authorities said all crew members survived. Accounts differ on whether Kuwait's defenses shot the aircraft down or they crashed in the airspace above Kuwait, and the U.S. military and Kuwaiti authorities are still investigating.

Iran has launched missile and drone strikes across the region, targeting Israel, U.S. bases and Gulf states. Iranian state television reported that Ayatollah Ali Khamenei was among those killed in Tehran during the weekend airstrikes, a claim that outlets attributed to state broadcasters. Iranian national security chief Ali Larijani vowed "we will not negotiate with the United States" as the conflict intensified.

Casualty estimates inside Iran vary widely by source. Iran's state news agency IRNA reported that a strike on a girls' school in Minab killed more than 160 students, teachers and parents and injured 95, while the Iranian Red Crescent provided a separate tally of 555 dead across Iran. International news organizations cautioned that reporting from inside Iran is tightly controlled and many of the death tolls could not be independently verified. UNESCO and UNICEF warned of severe harm to children and educational infrastructure and emphasized obligations under international law to protect schools.

The attacks have already had measurable economic and logistical consequences. Oil and gold prices rose as markets priced in supply and security risks, U.S. and European futures fell, and thousands of flights have been canceled since fighting began, according to market and travel data cited by financial coverage. Saudi Aramco's Ras Tanura refinery was struck by a drone, and Iran's Revolutionary Guards commander said the Strait of Hormuz was closed and threatened to "set any ship trying to pass on fire," a claim reported via Reuters.

Diplomatic fallout is unfolding rapidly. Saudi Arabia condemned the strikes on Gulf targets, summoned its ambassador from Tehran and reiterated calls for security. The U.S. State Department urged Americans in 14 countries to "depart now." With key claims coming from state-controlled Iranian outlets and casualty figures diverging across agencies, independent verification remains limited and many central questions about responsibility and the full human toll are unresolved.