Blinken speaks to Saudi counterpart following attack near US consulate in Jeddah

WASHINGTON 

US Secretary of State Antony Blinken held a telephone call Friday with his Saudi Arabian counterpart following an attack earlier this week near the US consulate in Jeddah.

"The Secretary expressed appreciation for Saudi Arabia’s support during the recent shooting incident outside the U.S. Consulate General in Jeddah and its continued support for our diplomatic missions," State Department spokesperson Matthew Miller said in a statement.

An armed man exchanged fire Wednesday with security forces near the consulate in Jeddah and was killed along with a Nepalese security guard.