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CIA Station in Riyadh Hit by Drones; US Says Iran's Ability to Retaliate Waning

A CIA station within the US Embassy compound in Riyadh was reportedly hit in a drone attack, causing structural damage but no injuries. Separately, a fire near the US Consulate in Dubai, suspected to be from a drone strike, has been extinguished with no casualties. US Central Command claims its operations have severely degraded Iran's air defenses and missile stockpiles, reducing Tehran's ability to retaliate. The incidents occur amid heightened regional tensions following US and Israeli strikes on Iran.

Key Points: CIA Station Targeted in Riyadh Drone Attack, No Casualties

  • CIA station in Riyadh embassy compound targeted
  • Fire near US Consulate in Dubai after suspected drone strike
  • US claims degradation of Iran's air defenses and missiles
  • Region on high alert amid escalating conflict
3 min read

CIA station in Riyadh targeted by drones, no damage; US says Iran's 'ability to hit back declining'

Drones hit a CIA station at the US Embassy in Riyadh and a fire broke out near the US Consulate in Dubai. US officials claim Iran's retaliatory capacity is declining.

"Iran's ability to hit us and our partners is declining, while our combat power, on the other hand, is building. - Admiral Brad Cooper"

Riyadh, March 4

Fox News, citing a source, has reported that a CIA station inside the US Embassy compound in Riyadh was hit in a drone attack. Two drones caused structural damage and smoke inside the compound, officials said. There were no immediate reports of injuries, said the news report.

Earlier, amid escalating tensions in the Middle East following military strikes on Iran, a fire that broke out near the premises of the US Consulate General in Dubai late Tuesday night, following a suspected drone strike, has been fully extinguished, with authorities confirming that no injuries were reported.

Dubai authorities have confirmed that a fire resulting from a drone-related incident near the US Consulate has been successfully contained. Emergency teams responded immediately. No injuries have been reported.

According to a source in the region cited by CNN, the consulate grounds were hit by what is believed to be an Iranian drone.

In a post on X, the Dubai Media Office wrote, "The fire near the US Consulate in Dubai has been fully extinguished, with no injuries reported. Dubai authorities reaffirm their commitment to ensuring everyone's safety and security.

US Secretary of State Marco Rubio said a drone struck a parking lot adjacent to the US Consulate in Dubai. He said all personnel were accounted for after the incident.

The incident comes amid heightened tensions in the Middle East, with air defence systems across the Gulf region on high alert.

Meanwhile, Admiral Brad Cooper, the commander of United States Central Command said that with the intensity of the US attack Iran's ability to hit back was diminishing.

"Now, we're less than 100 hours into this operation, and we've already struck nearly 2,000 targets with more than 2,000 munitions. We have severely degraded Iran's air defences and destroyed hundreds of Iran's ballistic missiles, launchers, and drones. In simple terms, we're focused on shooting all the things that can shoot at us," he said.

"Iran's ability to hit us and our partners is declining, while our combat power, on the other hand, is building. And my overall operational assessment is that we are ahead of our game plan. Along the way, every single branch of our military is achieving unprecedented success," he added.

The conflict in the Middle East has entered its fourth day following the US and Israeli strikes on Iran that killed Supreme Leader Ayatollah Khamenei, along with other key figures in the Persian Gulf country. In retaliation, Tehran has responded with counter-strikes targeting American military bases and other Israeli assets across the region.

- ANI

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Reader Comments

P
Priya S
The Middle East conflict is worrying for global stability and oil prices. India imports so much oil from that region. Any prolonged war will hurt our economy and the common person's pocket. 🙏 Hope for a diplomatic solution soon.
V
Vikram M
The US Admiral's confidence sounds a bit premature. Iran has shown resilience for decades. Declaring their ability is 'declining' after just 100 hours might be overconfidence. The region is a tinderbox.
S
Sarah B
Respectfully, I think the US assessment might be overlooking something. As an outsider, it seems like tit-for-tat strikes just create more cycles of violence. The focus should be on protecting civilians and de-escalation, not just military assessments.
R
Rohit P
Our foreign policy has always been about strategic autonomy. India must navigate this carefully, maintaining good relations with all sides while bringing our citizens home if needed. Jai Hind.
K
Kavya N
The real victims are always ordinary people. Glad no injuries were reported in Dubai, but the fear and disruption are real. My cousin works there and the family is very tense. Hope for peace.

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