US President Donald Trump has warned that America will soon be responding to the drone strike on the American embassy in Riyadh and the deaths of US military personnel linked to the Iran conflict. Speaking to NewsNation in an interview, Trump said, “you’ll find out soon what the retaliation will be.” He further added that deploying troops on the ground is unlikely to be necessary. “We’re doing a lot of damage. We’re inflicting tremendous damage on them,” he said.Talking about his objectives in Iran, Trump said, “I know a lot, and I will absolutely know when it’s achieved. It’s getting very close, too. We’re causing significant damage and setting them back considerably,” he said. He also described the ongoing operations as proceeding “ahead of schedule.” When asked if he was concerned about attacks on US sites or on American soil, he dismissed the worry, saying such threats are part of war.“No, it’s part of war. It’s part of war, whether people like it or not. That’s the way it is,” he told NewsNation.This response follows a drone strike on the US embassy in the Saudi capital. In an initial assessment shared on X, Saudi Arabia’s defence ministry said that two drones hit the compound, triggering a limited fire and some damage.The attack occurred amid ongoing Iranian missile and drone strikes on Gulf states hosting US bases, following US and Israeli strikes on Iran on Saturday.Witnesses familiar with the situation reported hearing a loud blast at the embassy early Tuesday morning, with flames visible. One of the sources, as cited by Reuters, described the fire as minor. Black smoke was seen billowing over Riyadh’s Diplomatic Quarter, which houses several foreign missions.As of now, no injuries have been reported, two people familiar with the matter said, noting that the building was empty at the time of the early-morning strike.Following the incident, the embassy issued a “shelter in place” advisory for US citizens in Riyadh, Jeddah and Dhahran, and urged Americans to avoid the embassy premises until further notice. Travel to military sites in the region that is not essential is being restricted. The mission said that it is closely tracking the unfolding situation and urged US citizens to check the latest security alerts and reconsider travel plans in case of potential disruptions.The advisory recommends staying indoors, remaining vigilant, avoiding protests, large gatherings, and areas with a strong police presence, and following directions from local authorities.US nationals are also advised to enrol or re-enrol in the State Department’s Smart Traveler Enrollment Program (STEP) to receive security updates and allow authorities to contact them in emergencies. Citizens should ensure they have a valid US passport ready for any last-minute travel. Saudi Arabia’s unified emergency number for police, fire, and traffic services is 911. Other emergency contacts include police (999), highway security (996), and ambulance services (997).
