Multiple people wounded in blast at Riyadh airport, say eyewitnesses

On Saturday, a blast occurred at Riyadh's international airport, resulting in multiple people being wounded, according to eyewitness reports and statements from two individuals with knowledge of the situation. Airline travelers were evacuated from portions of the airport. Eyewitnesses stated they witnessed an explosion followed by injured individuals lying on the ground within the airport premises.

Rescue services were visibly rushing to the scene, deploying over a dozen ambulances. The Saudi government’s press office and the civil aviation authority have not yet provided any comment on the incident.

The attack comes amid an increase in missile strikes by Yemen's Houthi rebels against Saudi Arabia. The airport has been targeted twice this week, leading to the deaths of four individuals and injuries to others, severely damaging an aircraft. Flight-tracking service Flightradar24 reported that all flights to Riyadh were either diverted or cancelled, with only a helicopter observed flying over the airport at one point.

The airport authority advised passengers to reach out to their respective airlines for flight status updates before traveling to the airport.

In response to the security situation, several airlines including Kuwait Airways, Etihad Airways, and Qatar Airways have cancelled flights to and from Riyadh, citing the closure of the airport due to security concerns. Some of these cancellations were scheduled to continue into Monday. Despite the ongoing Houthi attacks, organizers of major energy and investment conferences scheduled to take place in Riyadh are moving forward with their plans, reassuring attendees of their commitment to security measures.

The Houthi group has warned airlines to steer clear of Saudi airspace, designating it as a military operations zone following the Yemeni government's recent offensive against the group.