Two people have been killed in an attack launched on Dammam’s King Fahd International Airport (DMM) by the Houthi rebel group. A further eight were injured in the attack, with injuries ranging from minor to serious, according to Saudi Arabia’s General Authority of Civil Aviation (GACA). This is the latest incident in several drone strikes targeting Saudi Arabia’s aviation infrastructure in the past month, all of which have been claimed by the Houthis.
Dammam’s Airport Targeted by Houthis in Latest Attack
Saudi Arabia’s General Authority of Civil Aviation (GACA) reported on Thursday, Oct. 22, that an attack against another of the kingdom’s airports had taken place the previous night, Oct. 21.
GACA also confirmed that two people had been killed, identified as a Saudi citizen and an Indian national resident. An additional eight people were taken to hospital with injuries that ranged in severity.
The Houthi rebel group, responsible for the preceding attacks against Saudi Arabia, has claimed responsibility for the incident. Previously, the Houthis have targeted Riyadh’s King Khalid International Airport in drone strikes which killed 13 people.
In addition to Dammam’s airport, the group also allegedly targeted the kingdom’s defence ministry headquarters in the capital, Riyadh, and an Aramco facility in Yanbu.
Abha International Airport (AHB) is also a target of the rebel group. AHB is an airport that serves the south of Saudi Arabia and has previously been the target of Houthi drone strikes. This clearly signifies the ongoing threat to Saudi Arabia’s aviation infrastructure and the increasing risk of travelling by air via the kingdom’s airports due to the Houthi attacks.
The extent of the damage to King Fahd International Airport’s facilities is being assessed, says GACA; however, its operations have resumed.
The Houthis maintain that the attacks against Saudi Arabia are a result of the kingdom’s involvement in the Yemen Civil War, and its support for Yemen’s government against the Houthis.
United States Orders Removal of Diplomats from Saudi Arabia
The situation in Saudi Arabia has been escalating since the start of October, when Riyadh airport was hit by several attacks, and numerous people were killed. At least 21 people have now been killed in Houthi attacks on Saudi airports launched since the start of October.
As a result, the United States has reportedly ordered diplomats in Saudi Arabia to leave the country with their families as the situation continues to develop and escalate.
A spokesperson for the US State Department told Reuters that diplomats had been told to leave Saudi Arabia due to the conflict, commenting that:
“The safety and security of Department personnel and their families remain our highest priority, and we will continue to take all necessary steps to protect and support them.”
This follows reports that the US embassy based in Riyadh had issued a security alert to warn US citizens about possible further attacks, as well as to advise them to “stay alert at locations publicly associated with the United States” and “keep a low profile”, according to The Sun.
In addition to this, the UK’s Foreign Office (DCO) has updated its travel advice concerning Saudi Arabia and upgraded its warning to cover the majority of the region rather than just the targeted locations. The DCO has warned British citizens to avoid all but essential travel to the kingdom.
It is unclear how this situation will continue to develop; however, additional countries will likely continue to pull out citizens and diplomats if attacks and drone strikes on Saudi Arabia’s infrastructure, particularly its airports, continue and risk leaving foreign nationals stranded as travel becomes increasingly dangerous.
Travel Radar will continue to report on updates to this developing situation in Saudi Arabia. Our thoughts are with those tragically killed in these attacks.
