Indian killed, two injured in attack on Saudi Arabia's Dammam airport

An Indian national was killed and two others were injured in an attack on Dammam airport in Saudi Arabia, news agency Press Trust of India reported, citing officials. The incident came a day after another Indian was injured in a drone attack targeting the kingdom's Shaybah oilfield.

The attacks took place amid a series of drone and missile strikes on Saudi airports, energy facilities and other key infrastructure. Iran-backed Houthi rebels from Yemen have carried out a prolonged campaign against the kingdom, although Saudi authorities have not publicly identified those responsible for the attacks on Dammam airport and the Shaybah oilfield.

The Indian Embassy in Riyadh said Saudi authorities informed it about the casualties in the attack 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 embassy 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 Dammam airport casualties followed a drone attack on Saudi Aramco's Shaybah oilfield on Wednesday, in which an Indian national was injured. In a social media post late on Wednesday night, the Indian mission said it had "learnt that one Indian national was injured in an attack at Shaybah oilfield today".

The embassy said it was in touch with Saudi authorities and was awaiting further details about the incident. It added that it would provide all necessary assistance to the injured Indian national, according to PTI.

The Saudi Ministry of Energy said air defences intercepted the drone, but falling debris killed two residents, a Filipino and a Nepali national. Two others, an Indian and a Pakistani, were injured.

"Air defences thwarted an attempt to target the Shaybah field, with two deaths and two injuries among residents resulting from shrapnel falling after the interception," the ministry said in a statement.

The incident caused a fire in a contractor's vehicle outside the facility, but oilfield operations were not affected, Saudi authorities said. Shaybah is a major oilfield operated by state-owned Saudi Aramco in the Rub' al-Khali desert in southeastern Saudi Arabia, near the border with the United Arab Emirates. It is a significant part of the kingdom's oil production infrastructure.

The Houthis, who control large parts of northern Yemen, have been fighting Yemen's internationally recognised government, which is backed by a Saudi-led coalition.

Earlier this month, an Indian national was killed and several others were injured in an attack on King Khalid Airport in Riyadh. India has strongly condemned the attacks on Saudi Arabia, particularly those targeting civilian facilities and infrastructure, and called for an immediate end to the hostilities.

The Indian Embassy has advised Indian nationals in Saudi Arabia to remain alert, follow instructions from local authorities and take shelter indoors during aerial attacks. It has also warned them against filming or sharing images and videos of drone or missile interceptions and impact sites, citing possible legal consequences under Saudi law.

Saudi Arabia is home to approximately 2.74 million Indian nationals working across various sectors. The latest incidents have left one Indian dead and two injured at Dammam airport, while another Indian was injured in the attack on the Shaybah oilfield.

With PTI Inputs

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