An attack on King Fahd International Airport in Dammam killed one person and injured eight others, Saudi Arabia's civil aviation authority said Wednesday evening.
Officials were assessing material damage at the facility, which serves commercial passengers and supports operations across the kingdom's oil-producing Eastern Province.
The Saudi Civil Aviation Authority confirmed the casualties but did not provide further details about the circumstances of the incident.
The extent of the damage and the potential effects on airport operations remained unclear in the initial statement.
Earlier strikes on the same airport
The attack follows earlier reported strikes against the same airport on October 11 and October 20, according to a report published by House of Saud.
The October 11 incident involved a projectile that reportedly struck the airport tarmac near parked aircraft and started a fire.
No casualties were reported from that earlier strike.
House of Saud reported that Houthi military spokesman Yahya Saree claimed responsibility for the October 11 attack and described its impact on aviation operations.
"Directly hit its target and disrupted air traffic," Yahya Saree said, describing the October 11 strike.
The Houthis also claimed simultaneous attacks on Aramco's Shedgum gas plant and Tanajib oil facility in the Eastern Province.
Saudi authorities had not confirmed damage to either energy facility in the account published by House of Saud.
The Saudi-led coalition separately said it had intercepted and destroyed a drone over the Eastern Province on October 11.
The available report did not establish whether the interception was connected to the airport incident or the claimed attacks on energy infrastructure.
King Fahd International Airport is Saudi Arabia's third-busiest airport, handling approximately 13.7 million passengers annually, according to House of Saud.
Beyond commercial aviation, the facility supports Saudi Aramco's employee transportation network, which moves technical personnel to oil fields, gas plants and export terminals across the region.
The airport houses a dedicated Aramco Terminal and serves as a base for Al Oula Aviation, the company's aviation operator.
House of Saud reported that the airline operates more than 60 aircraft and manages a network serving remote industrial sites throughout Saudi Arabia.
The airport also forms part of regional cargo and logistics development plans.
Dammam Airports Company and Saudi Aramco signed a memorandum of understanding in 2021 to develop an integrated logistics ecosystem at the airport's cargo village.
A master plan targets annual cargo capacity exceeding 600,000 tonnes by 2030, compared with 140,000 tonnes handled in 2024, according to House of Saud.
The latest reported casualties mark a significant development in the attacks targeting Saudi aviation infrastructure.
The Saudi Civil Aviation Authority's initial statement confirmed that damage assessments were underway, while further details about the incident had yet to be released.
