Houthis strike Saudi Arabia's Dammam airport and Shaybah oil field; 2 dead, 8 injured, Arab League warns of threat to civil aviation and energy security

MIDDLE EAST

Yemen's Houthi rebels attacked King Fahd International Airport in Dammam in eastern Saudi Arabia and the Shaybah oil field in the Eastern Region. Saudi Arabia's General Authority of Civil Aviation (GACA) said on the 22nd that the attack on the airport on the evening of the 21st (local time) killed 2 people and injured 8. The foreign ministry of the United Arab Emirates (UAE) also condemned the attack in a statement the same day, citing two deaths and injuries to a number of civilians. The Arab League, in Cairo on the 23rd, condemned the attacks on the two facilities as a violation of Saudi sovereignty and a "highly dangerous escalation threatening civil aviation safety and energy security." UN Secretary-General António Guterres expressed concern in New York on the 22nd over continuing Houthi attacks on civilian targets in Saudi Arabia and warned of repercussions for energy markets and the global cost of living. Dammam airport was also attacked on the 11th of this month.

Saudi civil aviation authority says death toll rises to two

Saudi state news agency SPA carried a follow-up statement from the civil aviation authority from Riyadh on the 22nd. The authority said one more death had been confirmed in connection with the attack targeting King Fahd International Airport in Dammam on the evening of Wednesday the 21st, and that "the death toll has risen to two." Those killed were one Saudi citizen and one resident of Indian nationality.

The number of injured remained at 8, the authority said. By nationality, they were one Saudi citizen, two residents each of Indian, Yemeni and Bangladeshi nationality, and one resident of Nepali nationality. Injuries ranged from minor to critical, and the injured were being treated at several hospitals. The authority said it was continuing to work with the relevant security authorities to assess the damage and to protect passengers, airport staff and the Kingdom's civil aviation.

UAE calls attack a flagrant violation of Saudi sovereignty

The UAE foreign ministry on the 22nd issued a statement titled "UAE Strongly Condemns Houthi Group's Attack on King Fahd International Airport." The statement said the attack "resulted in two deaths and injuries to a number of civilians."

The UAE foreign ministry condemned the attack "in the strongest terms," calling it "a flagrant violation of the sovereignty of the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia" and saying it directly threatened Saudi security and stability. It reaffirmed "the UAE's full solidarity with the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia" and expressed support for "all measures aimed at safeguarding the Kingdom's security and stability." It extended sincere condolences and sympathy to the families of the victims and wished the injured a speedy recovery.

Sheikh Abdullah bin Zayed Al Nahyan, the UAE's deputy prime minister and foreign minister, discussed recent regional developments and efforts to maintain regional security and stability by phone with Saudi Foreign Minister Faisal bin Farhan on the 19th, three days earlier, the UAE foreign ministry said. The two ministers also discussed bilateral relations and ways to expand joint cooperation.

Arab League calls airport and Shaybah oil field attacks a violation of Saudi sovereignty

The Arab League issued a statement in Cairo on the 23rd strongly condemning the Houthi attacks targeting King Fahd International Airport in Dammam and "the Shaybah oil field in Eastern Region." Saudi state news agency SPA carried the statement at 12:46 p.m. Saudi local time on the 23rd (6:46 p.m. KST).

The Arab League said the attacks caused "casualties, injuries, and material damage to the targeted facilities." The statement described the attacks as "a violation of the Kingdom's sovereignty and a direct threat to its security, stability," and said they also threatened "the safety of citizens and residents."

The Arab League warned that the repeated attacks on airports, oil facilities and civilian infrastructure constituted a "highly dangerous escalation threatening civil aviation safety and energy security." The league reaffirmed its "full solidarity" with Saudi Arabia and expressed support for the measures the Kingdom takes to protect its security and territorial integrity. It also said "the Kingdom's security is an integral part of collective Arab security." It urged the international community to "assume its responsibilities to halt these attacks" and to prevent their recurrence. It offered condolences to the families of the victims and wished the injured a recovery.

Guterres warns of pressure on energy markets and global cost of living

Guterres told reporters in New York on the 22nd that he was concerned about "the continued Houthi attacks on civilian targets in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia." SPA carried his remarks at 8:49 p.m. Saudi local time on the 22nd.

Guterres also expressed concern about intensifying hostilities near Taiz in Yemen. He said such developments were inflicting immense suffering on civilians and raising regional tensions. He called for an end to "attacks on homes, hospitals, schools, airports, and energy facilities."

On the economic fallout, he warned that the escalation was having "repercussions for energy markets, supply chains, and financial systems" and adding to "cost-of-living pressures worldwide." Guterres called for restraint and for "a political path forward in Yemen," referring to UN efforts toward that end. He also said the fighting must end, international law must be respected, civilians must be protected, and the rights and freedoms of international navigation must be upheld.

Qatar condemns airport attack, Britain reaffirms support for Saudi Arabia

Qatar's foreign ministry on the 22nd issued a statement titled "Qatar Condemns Houthi Targeting of King Fahd Airport in Saudi Arabia."

Britain referred to the matter on the 23rd when it announced the outcome of a phone call between Prime Minister Andy Burnham and U.S. President Donald Trump. The Prime Minister's Office said "The leaders also discussed the situation in the Middle East." It said Burnham reaffirmed "the UK's support for the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia in the face of hostile Houthi attacks."

Dammam airport was also attacked on the 11th

This is not the first time King Fahd International Airport in Dammam has been targeted. Turki al-Maliki, spokesman for the Coalition to Restore Legitimacy in Yemen, announced on the 10th that a projectile had fallen near King Fahd International Airport in Dammam. The next day, the airport itself was attacked. The civil aviation authority said in a statement on the 11th that the airport had come under attack that evening, amid continuing hostile attacks targeting the country's civil aviation facilities. Qatar's state news agency QNA carried both the coalition and civil aviation authority announcements from Riyadh. The authority said it was working with the relevant authorities to assess damage and carry out safety checks at the airport facilities. Jordan's Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Expatriates said in a statement on the 12th that attacks the previous day on King Khalid International Airport in Riyadh and King Fahd International Airport in Dammam had killed one resident, injured several people and caused material damage. Jordan condemned the attacks as "a flagrant violation of international law."

Around the same time, King Khalid International Airport in the capital Riyadh was also attacked repeatedly. According to the QNA report carrying the coalition announcement, the civil aviation authority had earlier said King Khalid International Airport was attacked and several people were injured. Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) Secretary-General Jasem Mohamed Albudaiwi issued a statement on the 10th strongly condemning the Houthi attack targeting King Khalid International Airport. Albudaiwi said the repeated targeting of airports, which are civilian facilities, was criminal behavior that terrorized civilians and endangered passengers and airport workers, and a violation of international law. Albudaiwi also called the attack "a highly dangerous escalation" that threatened civil aviation safety and urged decisive international action to deter Houthi attacks. The secretary-general added that "Saudi Arabia's security is an integral part of the security of all GCC states."

Condemnation also came from Pakistan. Hafiz Tahir Mehmood Ashrafi, the Pakistani prime minister's special representative on religious harmony, criticized the Houthis at a news conference in Islamabad on the 14th for "targeting innocent civilians, hospitals, schools, mosques, and airports." He said the Houthis' actions violated the teachings of Islam and international law, and that "the entire Muslim Ummah remains united against Houthi terrorists."