Riyadh airport evacuated following reported militant attack

Officials in Riyadh confirmed Saturday that the kingdom's primary airport has been evacuated and all air traffic suspended following reports of an attack, according to two regional authorities who spoke anonymously due to restrictions on public comment.

King Khalid International Airport has become a recurring target, having sustained multiple strikes throughout the week. Thursday's assault resulted in three civilian fatalities, including a commercial pilot, marking an escalation in the frequency and impact of the incidents.

The Iran-backed Houthi movement, an armed faction based in neighboring Yemen, has claimed responsibility for the earlier attacks this week. However, no official statement from the group regarding Saturday's incident had emerged by late evening.

The airport's management issued an advisory urging passengers to contact their airlines directly to verify flight status before proceeding to the terminal. The move underscores the operational disruption triggered by the security incident.

The attacks coincide with intensifying hostilities in Yemen, where Houthi forces have made territorial gains along the Red Sea coast. A Saudi-led coalition backing Yemen's internationally recognized government has intensified air operations in an effort to contain the militant group's expansion and restore government control over key areas.