NEW DELHI, India (Diya TV) — One Indian national died and two others were injured in an attack on King Fahd International Airport in Dammam, Saudi Arabia, on Wednesday. A separate drone incident at the Shaybah oil field injured another Indian, bringing the Indian casualty count across the two incidents to one dead and three injured.
Saudi Arabia’s General Authority of Civil Aviation initially reported one death and eight injuries at the airport. It later confirmed a second fatality: an Indian resident, alongside a Saudi citizen. The eight injured included two Indians, two Yemenis, two Bangladeshis, one Nepali and one Saudi citizen. Their injuries ranged from minor to critical, according to the authority.
The attack damaged airport facilities and prompted flight diversions. Saudi aviation authorities said operations had resumed and air traffic had returned to normal by Thursday. They are assessing the damage and checking airport facilities. Officials have not publicly identified the weapon used or those responsible.
At Shaybah, Saudi air defenses intercepted a drone targeting a facility at the Saudi Aramco oil field, the Energy Ministry said. Debris from the interception killed two people and injured two others; one of the injured was Indian. The ministry said the incident did not affect oil-field operations.
India’s Ministry of External Affairs condemned both attacks. “Attacks on civilian and critical infrastructure are completely unacceptable and must cease immediately,” it said, expressing solidarity with Saudi Arabia. The Indian Embassy in Riyadh said it was contacting the affected families and coordinating assistance with Saudi authorities.
The airport attack comes amid a series of strikes on Saudi infrastructure. Yemen’s Iran-aligned Houthi movement has claimed earlier attacks on Saudi airports, but Saudi authorities have not publicly attributed Wednesday’s Dammam attack to the group.
Flight disruptions have also delayed Indian Umrah pilgrims. India’s foreign ministry said about 3,000 stranded pilgrims returned home on available flights over the past week, in addition to more than 10,000 who traveled on regular bookings. The Indian Embassy in Riyadh and Consulate in Jeddah are coordinating with airlines and tour operators to arrange further returns. Hyderabad MP Asaduddin Owaisi said around 4,000 pilgrims remained stranded in Mecca and Medina; the ministry has not announced a final count.
The Indian Embassy has urged nationals in Saudi Arabia to follow local safety instructions and move to the nearest safe place during an aerial attack. It has also advised them not to film or share footage of attacks.
