Riyadh airport evacuated following reported explosion

King Khalid International Airport in the Saudi capital of Riyadh was evacuated on Saturday following reports of an explosion, according to DW and The Economic Times. DW reported that witnesses and local officials confirmed the evacuation. DW added that an agency report from AFP noted a witness heard an explosion while waiting to board a flight. Saudi officials have not issued a formal statement, and there were no immediate reports of injuries or damage. [1][7]

DW reported that the airport has been targeted multiple times this week as fighting intensifies between Yemen-based Houthi rebels and a Saudi-backed coalition. The New York Times reported that recent deadly Houthi attacks have brought the Yemen conflict to the capital, highlighting the kingdom's vulnerabilities to targeted strikes. [1][6]

Riyadh is the capital and largest city of Saudi Arabia. As FTMQ News reported earlier, Houthi rebels previously claimed a ballistic missile attack on King Khalid International Airport, while Saudi Arabia reported intercepting a missile north of Riyadh earlier in the week. [11][13]