Saudi Arabia is facing one of its most dangerous weeks in years, and Indians are caught right in the middle of it. A Houthi attack on Dammam’s King Fahd International Airport on Wednesday evening killed two people, including an Indian national, while another Indian was injured in a drone strike on an Aramco oil facility the same day. Thousands of Indian Umrah pilgrims are now stranded in the kingdom as airlines suspend flights.
India moved fast. New Delhi condemned the strikes, expressed solidarity with Saudi Arabia, and set up round-the-clock control rooms to help citizens on the ground. Here is what happened, who was affected, and what comes next.
What happened at Dammam airport
The attack hit King Fahd International Airport in Dammam, the main airport serving Saudi Arabia’s eastern oil hub, on Wednesday evening. Saudi Arabia’s General Authority of Civil Aviation said two people were killed: one Saudi citizen and one Indian national. Eight others were injured, including two Indian nationals, according to the Indian Embassy in Riyadh.
“Saudi authorities have informed that 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. We are ascertaining further details and contacting the affected families,” the embassy said in a social media post on Thursday.
Flights bound for Dammam were diverted after the strike, according to global flight-tracking service Flightradar24. Saudi aviation authorities said airport operations and air traffic had returned to normal after brief disruptions, once security teams assessed the damage.
Drone strike at Shaybah oilfield the same day
Earlier on Wednesday, Saudi Arabia’s Energy Ministry said air defences had intercepted a drone as it attempted to target one of Saudi Aramco’s facilities at the Shaybah oilfield in the Eastern Province. Two people were killed and two injured by falling debris, the ministry said. One Indian national was among the injured, according to the Indian mission in Saudi Arabia.
The Houthis claimed they had launched missile and drone attacks on a string of Saudi targets: the Defence Ministry in Riyadh, Dammam airport, an Aramco facility in Yanbu and Abha International Airport in the southwest, according to the Houthi-aligned Almasirah television.
This was not the first strike of the month. King Fahd International Airport had already come under attack on October 11, and the United States embassy in Riyadh issued a security alert on Wednesday warning of possible further Houthi attacks on the kingdom.
About 4,000 Indian pilgrims stranded as airlines suspend flights
The security crisis has created a separate humanitarian headache. AIMIM chief and Hyderabad MP Asaduddin Owaisi said on Thursday that about 4,000 Indian Umrah pilgrims were stuck in Mecca and Medina after Air India, IndiGo and Akasa Air cancelled their flights to Saudi Arabia.
Owaisi urged the Directorate General of Civil Aviation to let airlines operate larger aircraft or arrange special flights, and alleged that travel agents had abandoned many of the pilgrims. A large number of those stranded are from Telangana, and state minorities welfare minister Mohammed Azharuddin said he had spoken to India’s Consul General in Jeddah about their welfare.
The Ministry of External Affairs said the Indian Embassy in Riyadh and the Consulate in Jeddah were “actively engaging with concerned airlines and tour operators to facilitate the early return of affected pilgrims”. Minority Affairs Minister Kiren Rijiju said Indian missions were coordinating with airlines and operators for those still affected.
- Over the past week, about 3,000 stranded Umrah pilgrims travelled back to India on available flights, the MEA said.
- More than 10,000 regular Umrah pilgrims booked on available flights have also travelled to India over the past week.
- Control rooms are working round the clock at the Embassy in Riyadh and the Consulate General in Jeddah.
- Embassy and consulate staff, with community volunteers, are extending welfare assistance to stranded nationals.
India condemns the attacks, stands with Saudi Arabia
Condemning the strikes, the external affairs ministry said in a statement: “The attacks on civilian and critical infrastructure are completely unacceptable and must cease immediately. We stand in solidarity with the people and the Government of the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia in safeguarding its sovereignty, and hope that peace and normalcy would return to the region at the earliest.”
The embassy has issued advisories urging Indian nationals in Saudi Arabia to remain alert, follow instructions from local authorities and take shelter indoors during aerial attacks.
The escalation keeps widening
The Houthis have also claimed that Saudi Arabia attacked a yacht carrying Indians in the Red Sea near Zuqar Island, adding that they were conducting rescue operations. Houthi spokesperson Yahya Saree said 14 Indians were on the vessel. The Indian mission in Yemen said it would provide all possible help for their safety. The claim could not be independently verified.
The Houthis warned that if Saudi Arabia continues to attack Yemen, they would “resort to major options we did not want to take, and we hold it responsible for the consequences”. An AFP tally of official figures puts the number of people killed in attacks on Saudi airports this month at 22, underlining how fast the confrontation is escalating.
FAQs
How many Indians were killed in the Dammam airport attack?
One Indian national was killed and two others were injured in the Wednesday evening attack on King Fahd International Airport in Dammam, according to the Indian Embassy in Riyadh.
Why are Indian pilgrims stranded in Saudi Arabia?
About 4,000 Indian Umrah pilgrims are stuck in Mecca and Medina after Indian carriers suspended flights to Saudi Arabia following the Houthi attacks on airports.
What is India doing to help stranded pilgrims?
The MEA said 3,000 stranded Umrah pilgrims have already returned over the past week, and 24×7 control rooms are working at the Indian Embassy in Riyadh and the Consulate in Jeddah to assist the rest.
Who claimed responsibility for the attacks?
The Houthis claimed missile and drone attacks on the Saudi Defence Ministry in Riyadh, Dammam airport, an Aramco facility in Yanbu and Abha airport.
Has India taken a position on the attacks?
Yes. India called the attacks on civilian and critical infrastructure “completely unacceptable” and said it stands in solidarity with Saudi Arabia in safeguarding its sovereignty.
The situation is developing fast, and the priority for India right now is simple: bring its people home safely, and help its partner regain stability. As flights resume and rescue efforts continue, one thing is clear, this week has changed the security equation in the Gulf, and everyone is watching what happens next.
