U.S. Embassy says Americans detained in Saudi Arabia for photographing recent events as authorities warn that sharing missile and drone footage may bring legal liability

The U.S. Embassy in Saudi Arabia said American citizens had been detained for photographing recent events in the kingdom, where missile and drone attacks attributed to Yemen’s Houthi forces have raised security concerns. The mission did not say how many people were detained or whether any had been released.

The embassy quoted Saudi authorities as warning that filming, publishing or sharing information about missile and drone interceptions or their impact sites could expose people to legal liability. The warning covers footage of both air-defense operations and the locations hit by attacks.

Saudi Arabia has faced a series of attacks on its airports. The latest reports include a deadly missile strike at Riyadh’s King Khalid International Airport, followed by another projectile striking a terminal the next day.