Dubai, Oct 22: An Indian national was killed and two others were injured in an attack on King Fahd International Airport in Dammam, Saudi Arabia, officials said on Thursday. The incident occurred a day after another Indian national was injured in a drone attack targeting the kingdom’s Shaybah oilfield, amid a series of strikes on key infrastructure.
The Indian Embassy in Riyadh said Saudi authorities had informed it of the casualties in the attack on the airport on Wednesday night.
“One Indian national was among two people who unfortunately lost their lives in the attack on Dammam airport yesterday night and two Indian nationals were injured,” the embassy said in a social media post.
The mission said it was gathering further details 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,” it said.
The authorities have not specified whether the attack on the airport involved a drone or a missile.
According to Saudi Arabia’s General Authority of Civil Aviation (GACA), an Indian national and a Saudi citizen were killed, while eight others were injured in the attack.
The injured included one Saudi citizen, two Indians, two Yemenis, two Bangladeshis and one Nepalese national.
“Their injuries range from minor to critical, and they are receiving the necessary medical care at several hospitals,” GACA said in a statement.
The authority said airport operations had resumed and air traffic had returned to normal.
“GACA continues to work, in coordination with the relevant authorities, to complete the damage assessment, verify the safety of the facilities, and take the necessary measures to ensure the safety of passengers and personnel and maintain the security and safety of the kingdom’s civil aviation system,” it said.
The attack comes amid escalating drone and missile strikes targeting Saudi Arabia’s airports, energy installations and other critical infrastructure. Iran-backed Houthi rebels have been involved in a prolonged campaign against the kingdom, although Saudi authorities have not publicly identified those responsible for the Dammam airport attack.
The latest casualties follow a drone attack targeting Saudi Aramco’s Shaybah oilfield on Wednesday, in which another Indian national was injured.
PTI