Yemen’s Houthis say they attacked Saudi Defence Ministry, Aramco in Yanbu and Dammam airport

On October 21, 2026, King Fahd International Airport in Saudi Arabia’s eastern oil city of Dammam was attacked by the Houthi rebels from Yemen, resulting in one person killed and eight injured. The victims included a Saudi citizen and an Indian national, with injuries ranging from minor to critical. This attack follows multiple strikes on other Saudi airports and energy facilities over recent weeks.

The Saudi-led coalition fighting against Iran-backed Houthis confirmed that five drones targeting the kingdom were intercepted over Medina two days earlier. Meanwhile, the U.S. State Department ordered non-emergency personnel and their families out of Saudi Arabia due to escalating Houthi attacks, though they clarified this was not a broader evacuation across the Gulf region.

These events have led to operational disruptions at major airports like King Khalid International Airport in Riyadh, which temporarily shut down after being hit by earlier strikes. Additionally, British naval forces reported an incident where a projectile ignited a fire aboard a tanker off Oman but stated that the crew was unharmed.

The ongoing conflict and recent attacks pose significant economic challenges for Saudi Arabia, potentially affecting air traffic and international relations further if the violence continues to escalate.