Iran’s ambassador to Saudi Arabia, Alireza Enayati, has expressed appreciation to Riyadh for pledging not to allow its airspace, waters, or territory to be used by the United States or Israel for attacks on Iran. Speaking to AFP, Enayati said Iran values Saudi Arabia’s repeated assurances that its territory will not serve as a platform for aggression against Iran.

Before the outbreak of war, Saudi Arabia had supported diplomatic efforts to ease tensions between Tehran and Washington and consistently maintained that it would not permit its territory or airspace to be used for attacks on Iran. However, following the joint U.S.-Israeli strikes on Iran on February 28, diplomatic relations between Tehran and Riyadh faced new challenges. Iran retaliated by targeting U.S. bases across the Middle East, including attacks near the U.S. embassy and energy facilities in Saudi Arabia.

On March 1, Saudi Arabia summoned the Iranian ambassador to express strong condemnation of the attacks. Deputy Foreign Minister Walid Elkhareiji reaffirmed Riyadh’s commitment to protecting its sovereignty and warned that indiscriminate strikes threaten regional stability.

A missile struck Saudi Aramco’s largest oil refinery at Ras Tanura on Wednesday, according to reports. It remains unclear which part of the complex was damaged. The refinery had been temporarily shut down on Monday following a drone attack.

Monday’s incident had led to accusations against Iran, but Tehran denied involvement, stating that it only targets facilities linked to U.S. and Israeli interests. Iranian officials claimed that Israel carried out a “disguised attack” on the Aramco site instead.

The renewed strike adds to regional tensions surrounding energy infrastructure in the Gulf, though the extent of the latest damage and potential impact on operations were not immediately known.

A drone attack targeted the CIA station inside the US Embassy compound in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia, on Monday, March 2, according to a source cited by Reuters on Tuesday, March 3. The source confirmed that Iranian drones were used in the strike, though it remains unclear whether the CIA station was the intended target. The US Central Intelligence Agency declined to comment on the incident.

Saudi Arabia’s Ministry of Defense reported that two drones hit the embassy premises, causing a limited fire and some material damage. Following the attack, the US mission in Saudi Arabia issued an emergency security alert, advising citizens to avoid the embassy area until further notice. It also warned of possible missile and drone threats in the Dhahran region.

The incident occurred amid ongoing tensions in the Middle East and has raised renewed concerns about the security of US diplomatic and intelligence facilities in the region.

Saudi Arabia’s Ministry of Defense reported intercepting two cruise missiles south of Riyadh, according to Reuters and AFP. The Saudi Press Agency separately confirmed that nine drones were also shot down. Officials did not disclose where the missiles and drones originated.

The incident occurred as regional tensions intensified, with Israel announcing renewed attacks on Iran, including strikes targeting the Iranian presidential complex and leadership residences. The United States stated it had struck over two thousand Iranian targets since launching operations on Saturday. In response, Iran fired missiles at U.S. bases and Israeli positions across the Middle East, reportedly killing six American soldiers.

Reports indicated that by Tuesday night, the ongoing hostilities had resulted in more than a thousand deaths, underscoring the rapidly worsening conflict across the region.

The United States Embassy in Riyadh announced the suspension of all consular services across its missions in Saudi Arabia. According to an embassy statement, all regular and emergency appointments scheduled for Tuesday have been canceled. The missions in Jeddah, Riyadh, and Dhahran have been placed under a 'shelter in place' directive. The embassy also advised American citizens to maintain personal security plans and avoid approaching the embassy area until further notice.

The statement linked the suspension to an attack on the organization, prompting heightened security measures. The development comes amid a series of regional attacks following Iranian strikes on US military bases in the Middle East. One such attack reportedly targeted Saudi Aramco, the state-owned oil giant, causing a fire at its facility.

The embassy has not indicated when consular operations might resume, leaving uncertainty about the duration of the suspension and its impact on American citizens in Saudi Arabia.

US President Donald Trump has signaled a strong response following a drone attack on the American Embassy in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia. In an interview with NewsNation journalist Kelly Meyer, Trump said Washington would take significant action soon, adding that the world would see the response very quickly.

According to the report, two drones struck the US Embassy in Riyadh early Tuesday morning, causing a small fire and partial damage to the building. Following the incident, the United States placed all its facilities and diplomatic missions across the Middle East on high alert.

The US government has also suspended all consular services in Saudi Arabia as a precautionary measure, while regional tensions remain heightened after the attack.

Saudi Arabia’s Ministry of Defense confirmed that two drones attacked the United States Embassy in Riyadh early Tuesday morning. The incident caused a limited fire within the embassy compound and minor structural damage to parts of the building, according to a statement released on social media platform X.

Following the attack, precautionary instructions were issued for staff of the US missions in Saudi Arabia. Personnel in Riyadh, Jeddah, and Dhahran were advised to remain in safe locations, and movement to military installations in the region was restricted unless necessary.

The ministry’s statement did not specify who was responsible for the attack or whether any casualties occurred. The situation prompted heightened security measures around diplomatic and military facilities in the affected areas.

An Iranian Shahed-136 drone struck Saudi Arabia’s Aramco oil refinery in Ras Tanura, causing a temporary shutdown of operations. The attack led to a limited fire that was quickly brought under control, and no casualties have been reported so far.

The incident comes amid rising tensions in the Middle East, where Iran has recently launched missile and drone attacks targeting Gulf countries and Israel. The Ras Tanura refinery, located in eastern Saudi Arabia and operated by Aramco, is one of the world’s largest and most important oil export centers, processing over 550,000 barrels of crude oil daily. It includes extensive refining units, storage tanks, pipelines, and a major port for international oil shipments.

Given Ras Tanura’s central role in global energy supply, any disruption there could affect international crude oil prices and contribute to instability in the global energy market.

Saudi Arabia’s largest oil refining company, Aramco, has temporarily shut down operations at its Ras Tanura refinery following a drone attack attributed to Iran. According to a Saudi defense ministry spokesperson quoted by Al Arabiya TV, two drones targeted the facility, causing a limited fire that was quickly brought under control. No casualties have been reported so far.

The incident comes amid escalating tensions in the Middle East, where Iran has recently carried out missile and drone strikes against Gulf countries and Israel. The Ras Tanura refinery, located in eastern Saudi Arabia, is one of the world’s major oil export hubs, processing over 550,000 barrels of crude oil daily. Its adjacent export terminal ships millions of barrels to global markets each day.

The temporary closure of Ras Tanura underscores the vulnerability of key energy infrastructure in the region and could heighten concerns about stability in global oil supply if attacks continue.

Iran has launched another missile attack targeting Riyadh’s international airport and the Prince Sultan Air Base in Saudi Arabia. According to a report by AFP, Saudi Arabia claimed that its air defense systems successfully intercepted all incoming Iranian missiles aimed at the airport and the U.S. military base located there.

A Gulf-based source familiar with the incident confirmed to AFP that the missiles were shot down on Sunday afternoon before reaching their targets. The source added that air traffic at Riyadh International Airport was not disrupted and that there were no casualties or material damage reported.

An eyewitness near the airport told AFP that he saw missiles being intercepted in the sky and heard loud explosions. The report did not mention any official Iranian response or further escalation following the interception.

Saudi Arabia has condemned Iran’s attacks on Bahrain, Qatar, Jordan and Kuwait, describing them as direct violations of the sovereignty of those nations and contrary to fundamental principles of international law. Riyadh warned that continued breaches of state sovereignty could lead to serious consequences.

According to the report, Iran launched strikes on Gulf countries hosting U.S. bases after the United States and Israel carried out attacks on Saturday. The Saudi statement came amid heightened regional tensions following these exchanges.

The condemnation underscores Saudi Arabia’s stance on protecting regional sovereignty and adherence to international law, as the situation in the Gulf remains volatile following the recent military actions.

Bangladesh national team cricketer Mushfiqur Rahim has been stranded at Jeddah airport in Saudi Arabia after flight operations were disrupted due to the outbreak of war involving the United States, Israel, and Iran. Rahim had traveled to Saudi Arabia to perform Umrah and was scheduled to return home on February 28, 2026. His Emirates flight from Jeddah to Dubai was forced to return to Jeddah as air routes were suspended following the escalation of military actions in the region.

According to the report, the conflict began when US and Israeli forces launched a military operation in Iran, prompting retaliatory attacks by Iran on American installations across six Middle Eastern countries. The resulting instability has severely affected air travel across the region, leaving thousands of passengers, including Rahim, stranded.

Rahim shared on social media that he had completed his Umrah and was waiting at Jeddah airport with many other travelers. He expressed uncertainty about when he would be able to return to Dhaka and requested prayers for a safe return.

Saudi Arabia has announced a new record for the highest number of Umrah pilgrims in a single day during the holy month of Ramadan. On Saturday, February 21, 2026, a total of 904,000 people performed Umrah, surpassing the previous record of 500,000 pilgrims set on March 7, 2025. The surge in attendance at the Grand Mosque in Mecca prompted authorities to implement strict safety and crowd management measures.

To manage the large influx, the open marble courtyard around the Kaaba, known as the Mataf area, was reserved exclusively for Umrah pilgrims throughout the day. Saudi authorities reported that the Grand Mosque experiences particularly heavy crowds during Friday prayers and the Maghrib, Isha, Tarawih, and late-night Tahajjud prayers in the last ten days of Ramadan. Worshippers were urged to follow official guidance and pray in designated open areas when the mosque reaches capacity.

Authorities also enforced directional signage for entry and exit, banned gatherings on walkways and roads, and introduced special traffic controls around the mosque. Unauthorized motorcycles and bicycles were prohibited, and improperly parked vehicles posing safety risks faced legal action under traffic laws.

Saudi Arabia has imposed a ban on the import of poultry and eggs from Bangladesh and 39 other countries to protect public health and ensure food safety in its domestic market. The Saudi Food and Drug Authority confirmed that the restriction also includes partial bans on specific regions in 16 additional countries. The decision was announced on February 25, 2026.

According to reports, the list of restricted and partially restricted countries will be reviewed regularly based on global health updates and epidemiological data. Some of the bans have been in place since 2004, while others were added gradually following risk assessments and international reports. The authority identified the widespread outbreak of highly pathogenic avian influenza as the main reason for the restrictions.

The Saudi authority clarified that the temporary ban does not apply to heat-treated poultry and related products that meet approved health and safety standards. Such products must be accompanied by official certificates confirming that avian influenza and Newcastle disease viruses have been fully destroyed during processing and that they originate from approved facilities in the exporting countries.

Saudi academic Dr. Ahmad Al-Tuwaijri published a controversial article criticizing Israel and the United Arab Emirates, accusing Abu Dhabi’s rulers of aligning with Zionists and acting as a ‘Trojan horse’ for a wider Israeli project in the Middle East. The article, printed in a newspaper close to Saudi authorities, was briefly removed following protests from Tel Aviv and Washington, and accusations of antisemitism from pro-Israel networks in the United States. It was later restored, with claims that it had never been withdrawn.

The publication marked an unprecedented public critique of the UAE by a Saudi figure, highlighting growing friction between the two allies. Al-Tuwaijri argued that a deep regional rift has emerged, rooted in Israel’s actions in Gaza and Yemen’s ongoing conflict. He said Saudi Arabia feels humiliated by Israel’s conduct and has shifted its tone, recognizing that peace with Israel is unlikely under current conditions.

The episode underscores a possible strategic divergence between Riyadh and Abu Dhabi, as Saudi Arabia seeks closer ties with Turkey and reconciliation with Iran while reassessing its regional alliances.