Several explosions were heard across Saudi Arabia’s capital Riyadh on Thursday, with a major blast reported near King Khalid International Airport, according to a witness who spoke to The Associated Press.
The Iran-backed Houthi rebels later claimed responsibility, saying they had targeted the airport with a ballistic missile. The claim came after the Saudi-led coalition fighting the group said it had intercepted two missiles fired towards the Saudi capital.
Houthi military spokesman Yahya Saree said the group had targeted King Khalid International Airport around midday, claiming that one of its ballistic missiles “hit its target”.
The claim could not be independently verified.
Flights Halted At Riyadh Airport
King Khalid International Airport was reportedly closed again following the explosions. Flight-tracking service Flightradar24 said on X that the airport had recorded no recent arrivals or departures.
A witness at the airport said fire and ambulance crews were deployed and smoke could be seen in the area. Outgoing flights were halted, while passengers were reportedly asked to leave their checked-in luggage and evacuate the airport.
The extent of the disruption was not immediately clear. Saudi authorities had not responded to requests for comment.
Houthis Claim Fresh Strike On Saudi Capital
The latest incident comes amid a series of attacks claimed by the Houthis against Saudi targets in recent days. The group has repeatedly claimed strikes on airports, military installations and oil facilities in the kingdom.
The Saudi-led coalition said it had intercepted two missiles launched towards Riyadh on Thursday. The Houthis, however, said one missile targeting King Khalid International Airport had reached its intended target.
The developments come a day after Saudi authorities reported attacks on two airports that killed three people and injured dozens.
The attack on King Khalid airport killed a Sudanese national and wounded eight others, while a separate strike on Abha airport killed Moroccan and Algerian residents and injured 28 people, according to Saudi officials.
The latest attacks have raised fresh security concerns in Saudi Arabia, the world’s largest oil exporter, as the kingdom becomes increasingly drawn into the wider regional conflict.
Saudi Offensive Adds To Regional Tensions
The attacks come after Saudi Arabia and allied Yemeni forces launched a major air and ground offensive against the Houthis over the weekend.
The operation is aimed at retaking territory along Yemen’s western Red Sea coast and around the Bab el-Mandeb Strait that the rebels seized about a month ago.
The Houthis’ presence around the strategic waterway has also raised concerns over international shipping. The Bab el-Mandeb is a key alternative route to the Strait of Hormuz, where maritime traffic has been disrupted amid the ongoing Iran war.
On Wednesday, Maj. Gen. Turki al-Malki, spokesperson for the Saudi-led coalition, said coalition forces had destroyed a launch platform in Yemen’s rebel-held capital, Sanaa, which was allegedly being used to launch attacks on Riyadh.
