US Consulate Warns of Imminent Missile, Drone Threat in Dhahran

A missile is launched during an air defence drill in an undisclosed location in Iran, in this handout image obtained on January 12, 2025.

The United States Embassy and Consulates in Saudi Arabia have issued an urgent security alert, warning of an “imminent threat” of missile and unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV) attacks over Dhahran in the Kingdom’s Eastern Province.

In a statement released on its official website and X (formerly Twitter) account on 3 March, the US Consulate in Dhahran advised American citizens to take immediate shelter and avoid visiting consulate premises.

“There is a threat of imminent missile and UAV attacks over Dhahran. Do not come to the US Consulate. Take cover immediately in your residence on the lowest available floor and away from windows. Do not go outside,” the advisory stated.

The consulate urged US nationals in Dhahran to shelter in place, review security plans, and remain alert in case of additional strikes. Consulate personnel are also taking precautionary shelter.

Authorities have not provided further details regarding the source of the threat or any confirmed incidents.

Meanwhile, Israel has conducted fresh air strikes on Iran’s leadership compound in Tehran, including the presidential office, amid a reported death toll of 787 from ongoing US-Israeli attacks.

The Israeli Defense Forces (IDF) said in a Telegram statement that its air force targeted the Presidential Office, Supreme National Security Council complex, a military training institution, and other key regime infrastructure. The compound had been used by Iran’s former Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, who was killed over the weekend in joint US-Israeli strikes.

This latest attack escalates regional tensions and dims hopes for a diplomatic resolution to Iran’s long-standing nuclear dispute with the West. It follows repeated warnings from the US and Israel that further action would be taken if Iran continued its nuclear and ballistic missile programs.

The strikes also come amid renewed anti-government protests in Iran, following a crackdown that killed thousands earlier, with protesters recently returning to the streets to commemorate the victims.