RIYADH/SANAA, Oct. 22 (Xinhua) -- At least two people were killed and eight others injured in a late Wednesday attack targeting King Fahd International Airport in the eastern Saudi city of Dammam, as Yemen's Houthi group on Thursday claimed four missile and drone attacks against Saudi Arabia over the past 48 hours.
The Saudi General Authority of Civil Aviation said on Thursday that the two fatalities were a Saudi citizen and an Indian resident.
Airport operations have resumed to normal, as the authority is coordinating with security authorities to assess the damage and take necessary measures to ensure the safety of passengers and the airport staff.
The Saudi-led coalition said on Thursday that it had intercepted and destroyed multiple drones launched toward Saudi Arabia over Riyadh, Medina, Najran and the Eastern Province.
Meanwhile, Yemen's Houthi group said it had launched four missile and drone attacks against Saudi Arabia over the past 48 hours, targeting the Saudi Defense Ministry in Riyadh, King Fahd International Airport in Dammam, a facility belonging to Saudi oil giant Aramco in Yanbu, and Abha International Airport in the southwestern city of Abha.
All targets were "directly hit," causing air traffic disruption and a fire at the oil facility, said the group's military spokesman Yahya Sarea.
Sarea warned of further escalation if Saudi forces carry out what he described as the "threat to target Yemeni tribes", an allegation the Saudi-led coalition soon rejected, accusing the group of attempting to mislead public opinion and drag Yemeni tribes into its conflicts.
In a separate development, the Houthis claimed that Saudi Arabia struck an Indian yacht near Yemen's Zuqar Island in the southern Red Sea, alleging 14 Indian nationals were aboard.
Sarea said Houthi forces were carrying out a rescue operation and would provide further details later.
There was no immediate comment from Saudi Arabia.
The developments came amid intensified fighting in Yemen, with the Saudi-backed government forces trying to reverse Houthi territorial gains.
On the diplomatic front, the attack on King Fahd International Airport has drawn widespread condemnation from regional countries, including Jordan, Bahrain, Egypt, Qatar, United Arab Emirates, Iraq, Kuwait and Lebanon.
UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres on Thursday expressed concern over escalating hostilities in Yemen and continued Houthi attacks against civilian targets in Saudi Arabia, saying they were causing immense suffering to civilians and adding to regional tensions.
"We need restraint, and Yemen needs a political horizon," Guterres said, calling for an end to fighting and respect for international law, civilian protection and freedom of navigation. ■
