One killed, eight injured in Houthi attack on Dammam's King Fahd airport; US issues security alert

King Fahd International Airport in Saudi Arabia's Dammam city was attacked on the evening of 21 October. The attack was carried out by Iran-backed Houthi rebels of Yemen. The General Authority of Civil Aviation (GACA) has officially confirmed the incident. At least one person was killed and eight were injured.

All the injured were immediately admitted to nearby hospitals. According to official information from the Saudi civil aviation authority, the attack came suddenly on Wednesday evening. Eyewitnesses said several loud explosions were heard one after another in the airport complex, spreading fear and panic across the area. Some of the eight injured are reported to be in serious condition.

Local administration and emergency medical teams reached the spot and began relief work. The attack also caused major damage to property at the airport, and air traffic was completely halted for some time. Damage to the airport building and the area around the runway is being carefully assessed. The entire area has been sealed for security.

In view of the escalating violence, the US State Department has issued an urgent security alert. Non-essential US government employees posted in Saudi Arabia and their families have been directed to leave the country immediately. State Department spokesperson Tommy Pigott said the Iran-backed Houthi rebels were continuously carrying out deadly attacks on civilian sites in Saudi Arabia, especially international airports.

Pigott said: "Targeting civilian infrastructure, killing innocent people and disrupting international travel is a very serious matter. The safety of American citizens, government employees and their families living in Saudi Arabia is our first priority. That is why, as a precaution, we have begun the process of moving them to safety."

The official spokesperson of Yemen's army, Colonel Majed al-Nazili, strongly condemned the attack. He said the Houthi rebels had tried, for the fourth time in a single day, to target several civilian airports, including Al-Rayyan airport. According to him, the Houthis' actions are a direct blockade of the basic freedom and movement of the people of Yemen and of civilians across the region.

The army spokesperson said: "Repeated missile or drone attacks on extremely sensitive sites such as civilian airports are not merely a military conflict; they are a direct blow to the everyday lives of ordinary people. The Houthi rebels are deliberately violating human rights and trying to restrict business and private travel." He also underlined that the attacks are hurting not only international politics but also the local economy.

This is not the first Houthi attack on Saudi Arabia. Over the past few weeks the rebels have sharply increased the intensity and frequency of their attacks. On 10 October, a devastating attack took place at King Khalid International Airport in the capital, Riyadh. An Indian national was also killed in that incident. The Indian Embassy in Riyadh later confirmed this and assured the family of the deceased of all possible help.

In the series of attacks between 10 and 11 October, 13 people were killed in all and more than 309 civilians were injured, who are still being treated in various hospitals. In addition, according to GACA figures, continuous attacks on 6 and 7 October on King Khalid International Airport and Abha International Airport in southern Saudi Arabia killed 3 people and injured 36.