DAMMAM, Saudi Arabia – One person has been killed and eight others injured in an attack targeting King Fahd International Airport in Dammam, Saudi Arabia, as a wave of strikes against the kingdom’s critical infrastructure intensifies.
The country’s General Authority of Civil Aviation (GACA) confirmed the casualties following the incident on Wednesday evening, October 21, saying the injured had been taken to hospital for treatment.
Their injuries ranged from minor to critical, according to the aviation authority, which said the extent of the property damage was still being assessed.
The latest attack extends a period of heightened insecurity around Saudi Arabia’s aviation and energy infrastructure, raising concerns about civilian safety and disruption to air travel.
Authorities had not publicly identified those responsible for the Dammam incident in the initial announcement.
Saudi Airports Face Repeated Attacks
The strike on King Fahd International Airport follows a series of deadly attacks on Saudi aviation facilities, particularly King Khalid International Airport in Riyadh.
On October 10, an attack on Riyadh’s airport killed at least 12 people and injured more than 300. The incident forced the suspension of airport operations as officials assessed the damage and addressed the casualties.
A further attack was reported the following day, killing one person and injuring 11, according to Saudi civil aviation authorities.
The attacks have disrupted airport operations and exposed the growing risks facing civilian infrastructure as the conflict involving Saudi Arabia and Yemen’s Iran-aligned Houthi movement escalates.
The Houthis have claimed responsibility for previous attacks on Saudi targets. However, responsibility for the latest incident at King Fahd International Airport had not been established in the initial reports.
Saudi Energy Infrastructure Also Under Scrutiny
Saudi Arabia’s energy facilities have also featured in reports of recent attacks and attempted strikes.
On October 19, Yemen’s Houthi movement said it had targeted several Saudi energy, airport and military facilities, including the Shaybah oilfield, an Aramco site in Yanbu, King Khalid International Airport and Abha airport.
Reuters reported that Saudi authorities had not immediately confirmed those claims and that the news agency could not independently verify them.
The developments highlight the expanding range of strategic infrastructure implicated in the conflict, although individual claims of attacks and interceptions require separate confirmation.
US Orders Some Personnel to Leave Saudi Arabia
The escalating security situation has also prompted action by the United States.
The US State Department ordered non-emergency government personnel and their family members to leave Saudi Arabia, Reuters reported on Wednesday.
The move came amid growing concerns about further attacks on civilian airports and other critical infrastructure in the kingdom.
The US Embassy in Riyadh also issued a security alert warning of the risk of additional attacks, including those attributed in previous incidents to the Houthis.
The departure order reflects heightened concern about the safety of American personnel and their families as the regional conflict intensifies.
Damage Assessment Continues
GACA said the assessment of damage at King Fahd International Airport remained ongoing, with further updates expected.
The authority’s initial statement did not specify the type of weapon used, identify the perpetrators or provide details about the operational impact on airport services.
The latest casualties add to mounting concerns over the vulnerability of civilian infrastructure amid the widening conflict, with the possibility of further attacks threatening public safety and travel across the region.
