Indian killed in attack on airport, MEA slams Houthi strikes in Saudi

India on Thursday expressed solidarity with Saudi Arabia while condemning continued attacks by Houthi rebels on civil infrastructure, including a strike on Dammam airport that killed an Indian national, and backing the early restoration of peace and normalcy in West Asia.An attack on King Fahd International Airport on Wednesday evening killed two people, including an Indian, while two Indians were among eight people injured. Another Indian was injured by debris from a drone intercepted over Saudi Aramco’s Shaybah oilfield on Wednesday. The Indian Embassy in Riyadh is working with airlines and tour operators to facilitate the early return of Indian pilgrims stranded in Saudi Arabia because of the suspension of flights by Indian carriers following the recent escalation of hostilities.

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. Our thoughts and prayers are with the family and loved ones of the deceased and we wish speedy recovery of the injured. @MEAIndia

— India in Saudi Arabia (@IndianEmbRiyadh) October 22, 2026

External affairs ministry spokesperson Randhir Jaiswal said on social media that the Indian embassy in Riyadh and the consulate in Jeddah are “engaging with concerned airlines and tour operators to facilitate the early return of affected [Indian] pilgrims”.Jaiswal said about 3,000 stranded Indian pilgrims have returned from Saudi Arabia on available flights over the past week. This was in addition to more than 10,000 pilgrims who were not stranded and returned to India during the same period. “Arrangements are being discussed to facilitate the return of other Umrah pilgrims at the earliest,” he said. The Indian missions in Riyadh and Jeddah, with the support of community volunteers, are extending all possible welfare assistance to the pilgrims, Jaiswal said.

West Asia is home to more than 10 million Indians, a majority of them blue-collar workers, including employees of oilfields and infrastructure facilities such as airports. The latest attacks on Saudi infrastructure reflect the escalation of the conflict between Iran-backed Houthi rebels and the Saudi-backed government of Yemen. One Indian was killed, and 10 more were injured in an attack on King Khalid International Airport in Riyadh on October 10.