A loud explosion was heard at King Khalid International Airport in Saudi Arabia’s capital Riyadh on Saturday, as escalating attacks by Yemen’s Houthi movement disrupted air travel and prompted international airlines to cancel additional flights.
An eyewitness and individuals familiar with the incident confirmed hearing the blast, Reuters reported. However, Saudi authorities had not immediately confirmed its cause or provided details about possible casualties or damage.
The incident comes amid an intensifying campaign of missile attacks against Saudi Arabia by the Iran-aligned Houthis, raising concerns over aviation safety and the security of critical infrastructure.
King Khalid International Airport advised passengers to contact their airlines directly and verify their flight status before travelling to the airport.
Etihad Airways and Qatar Airways cancelled several flights connecting Riyadh with their respective hubs in Abu Dhabi and Doha, with some disruptions expected to continue through Monday.
Saturday’s explosion follows a series of attacks targeting Riyadh’s airport earlier this week that killed four people, wounded several others and damaged a Saudi Arabian Airlines aircraft.
Those strikes also sent thick smoke rising above the airport, triggering flight suspensions and cancellations by multiple international carriers.
The latest disruption comes at a particularly sensitive moment for Saudi Arabia, which is preparing to host major international energy and investment conferences in Riyadh.
The attacks have intensified concerns over the vulnerability of Saudi transport infrastructure and the potential economic consequences of prolonged disruptions to international aviation.
Saudi Arabia’s government media office and civil aviation authority had not responded to requests for comment at the time of the report.
There was no immediate confirmation that Saturday’s explosion was caused by a Houthi attack.
