ISTANBUL
Foreign embassies in eight Arab countries have faced attacks, closures and protests amid Iranian strikes launched in retaliation for an ongoing US-Israeli military offensive that began Saturday morning.
Anadolu marked the developments in Saudi Arabia, Bahrain, Qatar, Kuwait, Oman, the United Arab Emirates, Lebanon and Jordan.
I: Targeting and Closures
US and Israeli embassies in several Arab countries were targeted in Iranian attacks, prompting security measures and closures. Canada’s embassy in Saudi Arabia also suspended operations.
Saudi Arabia
The Saudi Defense Ministry spokesman, Turki al-Maliki, said Tuesday that two drones targeted the US Embassy in Riyadh.
Preliminary assessments indicated a “limited fire and minor material damage to the building,” Maliki added.
The US Embassy in Riyadh later issued a security alert urging American citizens in Saudi Arabia to shelter in place and avoid approaching diplomatic facilities. The embassy said it is closed on Tuesday.
Canada’s embassy in Riyadh also said Tuesday it closed its doors to the public in the Kingdom due to regional tensions. The embassy canceled all in-person appointments through March 6.
Kuwait
The US Embassy in Kuwait also said Tuesday that it would remain closed “until further notice” and canceled all routine and emergency consular appointments.
The embassy instructed staff to shelter in place and advised American citizens to remain at home, away from windows and lower floors.
Jordan
The US Embassy in Amman said in a statement that it had evacuated all personnel Monday evening as a precautionary measure to address a potential security threat.
Jordan has faced Iranian attacks since Saturday.
Bahrain
The US Embassy in Bahrain said Monday it would remain closed indefinitely, warning US citizens about possible attacks on hotels in the capital, Manama.
In a security alert posted on the US social media company X, the embassy said it has remained closed since Sunday due to ongoing regional tensions and would later announce when normal operations resume.
Lebanon
The US Embassy in Beirut said Sunday it would extend its closure through Tuesday as tensions escalated between Israel and Hezbollah in the wake of US-Israeli attacks on Iran.
The embassy had earlier announced Sunday evening that it would close Monday without providing additional details at the time.
UAE
Israeli media reported Sunday evening that the Israeli Embassy in Abu Dhabi sustained damage from an Iranian drone attack, without specifying the extent.
The Jerusalem Post daily said the embassy building, which houses Israel’s diplomatic mission and other embassies, was damaged in the strike.
Israel’s Yedioth Ahronoth reported that an Israeli woman and her son were wounded by shrapnel from a drone strike that targeted a building in Abu Dhabi where Israeli envoys reside. The nature of the injuries and full extent of the damage were not immediately clear.
Israel’s public broadcaster KAN confirmed at the time that Israelis were injured in the attack on Abu Dhabi but did not confirm whether the site was the embassy.
Oman
The US Embassy in Oman urged staff and US citizens Sunday to shelter in place.
Since the beginning of March, US diplomatic missions in these countries have fully or partially suspended services in response to escalating threats, including drone and missile attacks.
The US State Department has issued a series of broader security alerts since Feb. 28, with its latest update on Tuesday raising travel advisory levels to Level 3, “Reconsider Travel,” or Level 4, “Do Not Travel,” for most countries in the region.
The department also issued a “worldwide caution” Tuesday and urged US citizens to depart immediately from more than a dozen countries in the region.
II: Protests
Iran’s embassies in several Arab countries faced diplomatic summons and protests.
Saudi Arabia
The Saudi Foreign Ministry summoned Iranian Ambassador Alireza Enayati on Sunday to protest the “blatant Iranian attacks targeting the Kingdom and a number of sisterly countries,” according to a statement.
During the meeting, Deputy Foreign Minister Waleed bin Abdulkarim El-Khereiji expressed the Kingdom’s condemnation and denunciation of the attacks on Saudi Arabia and Gulf states.
He rejected violations of state sovereignty that undermine regional security and stability and said Saudi Arabia would take all necessary measures to defend its security and territory.
UAE
The UAE Foreign Ministry summoned Iranian Ambassador Reza Ameri on Monday and handed him a “strongly worded protest note,” condemning the “Iranian terrorist attacks,” the ministry said in a statement.
The move came a day after the UAE announced that it had closed its embassy in Tehran and withdrawn its ambassador and all diplomatic staff from Iran.
The ministry said the decision followed “blatant Iranian missile attacks targeting the state’s territory,” describing them as “aggressive strikes” on civilian sites, including residential areas, airports, ports and service facilities.
The decision reflects the UAE’s firm position rejecting any attack on its security and sovereignty, the ministry said.
Qatar
Qatar’s Foreign Ministry summoned Iranian Ambassador Ali Saleh Abadi on Saturday and expressed “strong protest and categorical rejection” of the targeting of Qatari territory.
In a statement, the ministry said the shelling constituted a “blatant violation” of Qatar’s sovereignty, threatened its security and breached international law and the UN Charter.
Jordan
Jordan’s Foreign Ministry summoned the chargé d’affaires of the Iranian Embassy on Sunday evening and delivered a protest message to Tehran over the targeting of Jordanian territory, the ministry said in a statement.
Israel and the United States have launched military strikes on Iran since early Saturday, killing hundreds of people, including Supreme Leader Ali Khamenei and top military officials.
Tehran has responded with missile barrages and drones targeting Israel and US bases in the region. Some of the strikes have caused deaths, injuries and damage to civilian sites.
*Writing by Lina Altawell
