CNN halted for urgent breaking news as US building struck

CNN was halted for a piece of urgent breaking news as a US building in the Middle East was struck by a suspected drone. Anchors Boris Sanchez and Brianna Keilar were in the studio as the breaking news logo flashed on the screen, with Brianna explaining: "We have breaking news in to CNN, a source in the Middle East telling CNN that the US consulate in Dubai was struck and now is on fire."

Boris then chimed in: "Political and National Security Correspondent Kylie Atwood is with us, along with Political and National Security Analyst David Sanger. Kylie, first to you, what are you learning about this news?"

Kylie explained: "Yes, so what we're learning from the source in the UAE right now on the ground is that the US consulate that is in Dubai, this is more than an hour from the US embassy, which is in the UAE, it is on fire at this moment.

"This was hit by a suspected drone. This obviously comes after last night, we were tracking suspected drones that had hit the US embassy in Riyadh, so this is a very dangerous situation for all the people who are living there but for all the Americans who are at the US embassies."

Drones struck the embassy in the early hours of Tuesday (March 3), though there were no reports of injuries.

Witnesses reported hearing a loud explosion and seeing flames, as black smoke rose over the area. The embassy issued a shelter in place warning for US citizens in Riyadh, Jeddah and Dhahran.

Worried CNN viewers took to X to tweet about the segment, with one writing: "Wow, praying this gets under control soon."

Another said: "Are we at war yet? Or is this still a strategic military operation?"

While a third posted: "Hey Republicans, is it a war yet?"