Deadly Attack Hits Saudi Arabia’s King Fahd Airport; 1 Killed, 8 Injured, Flights Diverted

New Delhi: Saudi Arabia’s King Fahd International Airport in Dammam was hit by an attack late Wednesday night, leaving one Saudi national dead and eight others injured. The Saudi General Authority of Civil Aviation confirmed on Thursday morning that the incident also caused damage to the airport, while several flights were reportedly diverted or rerouted.

Global flight-tracking service Flightradar24 reported on social media platform X that flight paths in the region were altered overnight following the incident.

Located near the Persian Gulf, close to Bahrain and Qatar, King Fahd International Airport serves as a major aviation hub in eastern Saudi Arabia. The region has faced repeated missile and drone threats, including previous attacks attributed to Yemen’s Iran-backed Houthi movement. However, the Houthis have not issued any statement regarding the latest incident.

Meanwhile, the Saudi-led coalition reported intercepting four drone attacks in the country’s eastern region, highlighting growing security concerns around critical infrastructure.

Drone Interception Debris Hits Aramco Oil Field, Two Killed

In a separate incident before the airport attack, debris from an intercepted drone fell on the Shaybah oil field operated by Saudi oil giant Aramco in southeastern Saudi Arabia, killing two people and injuring two others.

According to the Saudi Ministry of Energy, the deceased were nationals of Nepal and the Philippines, while the injured individuals were from Pakistan and India. The falling debris also sparked a fire in a contractor’s vehicle at the oil facility.

Saudi Oil Infrastructure Faces Repeated Threats

Saudi Arabia’s oil facilities and strategic infrastructure have faced a series of drone-related incidents in recent weeks. Last month, a Yemeni national living in Saudi Arabia was killed by debris from an intercepted Houthi drone, marking the first reported civilian fatality following an escalation in attacks targeting Saudi shipping and oil infrastructure.

Earlier this month, an attack in the Eastern Province also triggered a small fire in an administrative building belonging to Aramco, one of the world’s largest oil companies.

The latest incidents underscore the mounting security risks facing Saudi Arabia’s aviation and energy sectors. With casualties reported at both the airport and the Shaybah oil field, concerns are growing over the potential impact of continued drone and missile threats on civilian safety, air traffic and critical oil infrastructure.