Indian National Among Two Killed In Attack On Saudi Arabia’s Dammam Airport

An Indian national was among two people killed in an attack on King Fahd International Airport in Dammam, Saudi Arabia, on Wednesday evening. Two other Indian nationals were injured, the Indian Embassy in Riyadh said on Thursday.

In a post on X, the Embassy said Saudi authorities had confirmed the casualties. It added that it was gathering further information and contacting the affected families.

“Our thoughts and prayers are with the family and loved ones of the deceased and we wish speedy recovery of the injured,” the Embassy said.

The death toll rose to two after Saudi Arabia’s General Authority of Civil Aviation confirmed an additional fatality on Thursday. The deceased were identified as a Saudi citizen and an Indian resident.

Eight people were injured in the attack, including one Saudi citizen, two Indian residents, two Yemeni residents, two Bangladeshi residents and one Nepali resident. Their injuries ranged from minor to severe, and they were receiving medical care at several hospitals, the authority said.

The authority said it was working with security agencies to assess the damage and take measures to protect passengers and airport staff. It added that airport operations had resumed and air traffic had returned to normal.

US SAYS DEPARTURE ORDER APPLIES ONLY TO SAUDI ARABIA

The attack comes amid heightened regional tensions and concerns over threats to civilian infrastructure. The US Department of State has clarified that its order for non-emergency government employees and their families to leave applies only to diplomatic posts in Saudi Arabia, rejecting reports that similar orders were being prepared for multiple Gulf countries.

Department of State spokesperson Tommy Pigott said the decision followed increased hostilities by Iranian-backed Houthi forces against Saudi Arabia, including attacks on civilian airports and other critical infrastructure.

He said the attacks had caused civilian casualties and severe travel disruptions, adding that the safety of US diplomatic personnel and their families remained a priority.

PREVIOUS ATTACKS ON SAUDI AIRPORTS

The Dammam incident follows a deadly attack on King Khalid International Airport on October 10, in which 13 people, including an Indian national, were killed and hundreds were injured. Saudi Arabia’s General Authority of Civil Aviation initially reported 12 deaths and 309 injuries on October 11. The Indian Embassy later confirmed the death of an Indian national who had been injured.

Earlier, attacks targeting King Khalid International Airport and Abha International Airport on October 6 and 7 left three people dead and 36 injured, according to the aviation authority. Airport operations were temporarily suspended as officials assessed the damage and conducted safety inspections.

With inputs from ANI